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The differences between special agents 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 special agent and a special investigator. Additionally, a special agent has an average salary of $60,916, which is higher than the $50,623 average annual salary of a special investigator.
The top three skills for a special agent include professional work, national security and local law enforcement. The most important skills for a special investigator are law enforcement agencies, background checks, and child abuse.
| Special Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $60,916 | $50,623 |
| Hourly rate | $29.29 | $24.34 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 46,232 | 14,799 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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 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.
Special agents and special investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Average salary | $60,916 | $50,623 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $85,000 | Between $31,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Lompoc, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Maryland |
| Best paying company | BNSF Railway | City of Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a special agent and a special investigator in terms of educational background:
| Special Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between special agents' and special investigators' demographics:
| Special Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | 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, 63.0% 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% |