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The differences between special agents and supervisorsy special agent 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 supervisory special agent. Additionally, a supervisory special agent has an average salary of $67,204, which is higher than the $60,916 average annual salary of a special agent.
The top three skills for a special agent include professional work, national security and local law enforcement. The most important skills for a supervisory special agent are law enforcement agencies, fraud investigations, and criminal investigations.
| Special Agent | Supervisory Special Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $60,916 | $67,204 |
| Hourly rate | $29.29 | $32.31 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 46,232 | 87,242 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 supervisory special agent leads teams of special agents in investigations. His/Her or her duties include delegating assignments, performing field interviews, examining suspects' financial records, and monitoring wiretaps. Supervisory special agents should have good judgment and possess excellent communication skills. They are often hired by industries such as government and finance. The education requirements to qualify for the position include a bachelor's or master's degree in criminal justice, business, law, or a related field.
Special agents and supervisorsy special agent have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Agent | Supervisory Special Agent | |
| Average salary | $60,916 | $67,204 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $85,000 | Between $46,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | BNSF Railway | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a special agent and a supervisory special agent in terms of educational background:
| Special Agent | Supervisory Special Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between special agents' and supervisorsy special agent' demographics:
| Special Agent | Supervisory Special Agent | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |