Senior investigator vs special investigator

The differences between senior investigators and special investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a senior investigator and a special investigator. Additionally, a senior investigator has an average salary of $61,240, which is higher than the $50,623 average annual salary of a special investigator.

The top three skills for a senior investigator include senior level management, local law enforcement and claims handling. The most important skills for a special investigator are law enforcement agencies, background checks, and child abuse.

Senior investigator vs special investigator overview

	Senior Investigator	Special Investigator
Yearly salary	$61,240	$50,623
Hourly rate	$29.44	$24.34
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	4,525	14,799
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a senior investigator do?

As a senior investigator, you will be responsible for managing investigations for crimes, including corruption, organized crime, and fraud. You will work closely with the district attorney and law enforcement to investigate and solve these crimes. This role will require you to perform other additional duties, including collecting DNA samples from the crime scene, suspects and victims, organizing live training on risk, compliance, and ethics, and testifying in criminal and civil courts, civil service hearings, and ethics commission.

What does a special investigator do?

A special investigator is responsible for gathering information and analyzing evidence to identify criminal activities and law-violating instances. Special investigators review surveillance devices, interview witnesses, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies to collect related reports. They sort and store documents securely on databases for reference, confirm statements, and assist in court procedures for in-depth investigation. A special investigator must be highly communicative and observational, especially in organizing materials and verifying information to support claims and file the appropriate legal actions.

Senior investigator vs special investigator salary

Senior investigators and special investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Investigator	Special Investigator
Average salary	$61,240	$50,623
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $105,000	Between $31,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City	Frederick, MD	Lompoc, CA
Highest paying state	Maryland	Maryland
Best paying company	DLA Piper	City of Los Angeles
Best paying industry	Finance	Insurance

Differences between senior investigator and special investigator education

There are a few differences between a senior investigator and a special investigator in terms of educational background:

	Senior Investigator	Special Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Senior investigator vs special investigator demographics

Here are the differences between senior investigators' and special investigators' demographics:

	Senior Investigator	Special Investigator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6%	Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between senior investigator and special investigator duties and responsibilities

Senior investigator example responsibilities.

Investigate allegations of suspect FWA / prioritize and manage case load / maintain comprehensive case files.
Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
Create budget friendly evidence collection boxes for investigations and patrol officers.
Send specimens to laboratory to obtain DNA.
Participate on committees and teams supporting GMP compliance programs.
Collect possible DNA samples from the scene, victims, and suspects.

Special investigator example responsibilities.

Gather and analyze pertinent documentation, collect recorded statements, report fraud, and manage data in support of subsequent litigation.
Gather and analyze pertinent documentation, collect recorded statements, report fraud, and manage data in support of subsequent litigation.
Complete a DMV check to verify applicant identity.
Conduct in-depth financial investigations to determine patient's eligibility for Medicaid.
Ensure compliance of all plans and documentation by researching employment history, criminal records, civil filings, and DMV records.
Use specify techniques to safeguard PII including daily case document check out and bi-weekly case retention manifests.

Senior investigator vs special investigator skills

Common senior investigator skills

Senior Level Management, 13%
Local Law Enforcement, 9%
Claims Handling, 8%
Court Proceedings, 8%
Data Analysis, 4%
Management System, 3%

Common special investigator skills

Law Enforcement Agencies, 11%
Background Checks, 9%
Child Abuse, 7%
Insurance Claims, 5%
SIS, 5%
Local Law Enforcement, 4%

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Senior Investigator
Senior Investigator vs Special Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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