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Supervisory special agent vs senior investigator

The differences between supervisorsy special agent and senior 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 supervisory special agent and a senior investigator. Additionally, a supervisory special agent has an average salary of $67,204, which is higher than the $61,240 average annual salary of a senior investigator.

The top three skills for a supervisory special agent include law enforcement agencies, fraud investigations and criminal investigations. The most important skills for a senior investigator are senior level management, local law enforcement, and claims handling.

Supervisory special agent vs senior investigator overview

Supervisory Special AgentSenior Investigator
Yearly salary$67,204$61,240
Hourly rate$32.31$29.44
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs87,2424,525
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a supervisory special agent do?

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.

What does a senior investigator do?

As a senior investigator, you will be responsible for managing investigations for crimes, including corruption, organized crime, and fraud. You will work closely with the district attorney and law enforcement to investigate and solve these crimes. This role will require you to perform other additional duties, including collecting DNA samples from the crime scene, suspects and victims, organizing live training on risk, compliance, and ethics, and testifying in criminal and civil courts, civil service hearings, and ethics commission.

Supervisory special agent vs senior investigator salary

Supervisorsy special agent and senior investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Supervisory Special AgentSenior Investigator
Average salary$67,204$61,240
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $96,000Between $35,000 And $105,000
Highest paying City-Frederick, MD
Highest paying state-Maryland
Best paying company-DLA Piper
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between supervisory special agent and senior investigator education

There are a few differences between a supervisory special agent and a senior investigator in terms of educational background:

Supervisory Special AgentSenior Investigator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Supervisory special agent vs senior investigator demographics

Here are the differences between supervisorsy special agent' and senior investigators' demographics:

Supervisory Special AgentSenior Investigator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 90.5% Female, 9.5%Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between supervisory special agent and senior investigator duties and responsibilities

Supervisory special agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of actionable investigative leads for DoD leadership; senior law enforcement and counterintelligence investigators.
  • Manage, review and coordinate DoD espionage investigations and counterespionage operations.
  • Manage numerous violent street gang investigations resulting in numerous convictions for narcotics and firearms crimes.
  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Identify and resolve jurisdictional issues between the ATF and FBI in order to further collaborative investigation efforts.
  • Supervise the computer forensics and firearms qualification programs.
  • Show more

Senior investigator example responsibilities.

  • Investigate allegations of suspect FWA / prioritize and manage case load / maintain comprehensive case files.
  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Create budget friendly evidence collection boxes for investigations and patrol officers.
  • Send specimens to laboratory to obtain DNA.
  • Participate on committees and teams supporting GMP compliance programs.
  • Collect possible DNA samples from the scene, victims, and suspects.
  • Show more

Supervisory special agent vs senior investigator skills

Common supervisory special agent skills
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 18%
  • Fraud Investigations, 7%
  • Criminal Investigations, 7%
  • Violent Crimes, 4%
  • DEA, 4%
  • Domestic Terrorism, 4%
Common senior investigator skills
  • Senior Level Management, 13%
  • Local Law Enforcement, 9%
  • Claims Handling, 8%
  • Court Proceedings, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 4%
  • Management System, 3%

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