Special investigator vs investigators assistant

The differences between special investigators and investigators assistants 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 an investigators assistant. Additionally, a special investigator has an average salary of $50,623, which is higher than the $44,686 average annual salary of an investigators assistant.

The top three skills for a special investigator include law enforcement agencies, background checks and child abuse. The most important skills for an investigators assistant are background checks, physical evidence, and law enforcement agencies.

Special investigator vs investigators assistant overview

	Special Investigator	Investigators Assistant
Yearly salary	$50,623	$44,686
Hourly rate	$24.34	$21.48
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	14,799	16,836
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

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.

What does an investigators assistant do?

As the name entails, the job of an investigator's assistant is to perform office duties and field jobs to support investigations into criminal justice and criminal cases. Typical duties will include processing legal documents and reports such as subpoenas and complaints, collecting fingerprints, police reports, and background checks, and interviewing victims and witnesses. Additionally, as an investigator's assistant, you are responsible for reviewing criminal background checks and conducting research on new social trends. You will also be responsible for preparing payroll and delegating and coordinating multiple projects under a tight deadline.

Special investigator vs investigators assistant salary

Special investigators and investigators assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Special Investigator	Investigators Assistant
Average salary	$50,623	$44,686
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $80,000	Between $23,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City	Lompoc, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Maryland	Maryland
Best paying company	City of Los Angeles	Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry	Insurance	-

Differences between special investigator and investigators assistant education

There are a few differences between a special investigator and an investigators assistant in terms of educational background:

	Special Investigator	Investigators Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Special investigator vs investigators assistant demographics

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

	Special Investigator	Investigators Assistant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%	Male, 35.8% Female, 64.2%
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, 12.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between special investigator and investigators assistant duties and responsibilities

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.

Investigators assistant example responsibilities.

Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
Maintain strong working knowledge of both OPM and CBP/ICE contracts.
Review of case materials and pre-review items for OPM investigations.
Communicate with the public through outreach presentations on EEOC laws.
Research, interpret and apply EEOC laws to assist with case determinations.
Document all patrol activities and occurrences, maintain records and prepare reports.

Special investigator vs investigators assistant skills

Common special investigator skills

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

Common investigators assistant skills

Background Checks, 10%
Physical Evidence, 9%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%
Data Entry, 8%
Background Investigations, 7%
Subpoenas, 6%

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Special Investigator
Special Investigator vs Investigators Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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