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The differences between special investigators and criminal investigative agents 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 investigator and a criminal investigative agent. Additionally, a criminal investigative agent has an average salary of $56,775, which is higher than the $50,623 average annual salary of a special investigator.
The top three skills for a special investigator include law enforcement agencies, background checks and child abuse. The most important skills for a criminal investigative agent are physical evidence, law enforcement agencies, and surveillance operations.
| Special Investigator | Criminal Investigative Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $50,623 | $56,775 |
| Hourly rate | $24.34 | $27.30 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 14,799 | 25,834 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Special investigators and criminal investigative agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Investigator | Criminal Investigative Agent | |
| Average salary | $50,623 | $56,775 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $80,000 | Between $38,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lompoc, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | - |
| Best paying company | City of Los Angeles | - |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | - |
There are a few differences between a special investigator and a criminal investigative agent in terms of educational background:
| Special Investigator | Criminal Investigative Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between special investigators' and criminal investigative agents' demographics:
| Special Investigator | Criminal Investigative Agent | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5% | Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |