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The differences between special agents and security assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special agent has an average salary of $60,916, which is higher than the $38,261 average annual salary of a security assistant.
The top three skills for a special agent include professional work, national security and local law enforcement. The most important skills for a security assistant are customer service, security clearance, and patrol.
| Special Agent | Security Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $60,916 | $38,261 |
| Hourly rate | $29.29 | $18.39 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 46,232 | 102,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A special agent is responsible for investigating law violations and criminal activities by collecting pieces of evidence, including witnesses' testimonies, to release a warrant of arrest and initiate prosecution. Special agents work closely with other law enforcement agencies to identify threats, analyze occurring criminal activities, and connect intelligence records through observation and field investigations. They also attend court proceedings to present evidence for court decisions. A special agent must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills, assessing unusual situations, and handling suspicious activities.
A security assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in a company or establishment's security department. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, organizing equipment such as radios and flashlights, keeping an eye on the inventory of supplies, and liaising with external and internal parties. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, arranging requests, answering calls and correspondence, maintaining records of transactions, and handling paperwork. There are also instances where they must assist clients and employees, adhering to protocols as needed.
Special agents and security assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Agent | Security Assistant | |
| Average salary | $60,916 | $38,261 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $85,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BNSF Railway | Inter-Con Security Systems |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a special agent and a security assistant in terms of educational background:
| Special Agent | Security Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between special agents' and security assistants' demographics:
| Special Agent | Security Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |