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Undercover agent vs criminal investigative agent

The differences between undercover agents 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 an undercover agent and a criminal investigative agent. Additionally, an undercover agent has an average salary of $67,706, which is higher than the $56,775 average annual salary of a criminal investigative agent.

The top three skills for an undercover agent include law enforcement agencies, and . The most important skills for a criminal investigative agent are physical evidence, law enforcement agencies, and surveillance operations.

Undercover agent vs criminal investigative agent overview

Undercover AgentCriminal Investigative Agent
Yearly salary$67,706$56,775
Hourly rate$32.55$27.30
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs82,47825,834
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Undercover agent vs criminal investigative agent salary

Undercover agents and criminal investigative agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Undercover AgentCriminal Investigative Agent
Average salary$67,706$56,775
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $125,000Between $38,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between undercover agent and criminal investigative agent education

There are a few differences between an undercover agent and a criminal investigative agent in terms of educational background:

Undercover AgentCriminal Investigative Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Undercover agent vs criminal investigative agent demographics

Here are the differences between undercover agents' and criminal investigative agents' demographics:

Undercover AgentCriminal Investigative Agent
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 64.0% Female, 36.0%Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.9% White, 64.1% 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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between undercover agent and criminal investigative agent duties and responsibilities

Undercover agent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Serve as ATF case agent and undercover agent on numerous firearms and narcotics trafficking cases.
  • Review all complete DEA integrity/misconduct investigations, shooting investigations, accidents with government vehicles and property loss or damage negligence/liability reports.
  • Review all complete DEA integrity/misconduct investigations, shooting investigations, accidents with government vehicles and property loss or damage negligence/liability reports.

Criminal investigative agent example responsibilities.

  • Conduct joint planning and manage AFOSI's criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations in northern Italy.
  • Deliver subpoenas and other legal requirements.
  • Provide direction and guidance on several high-profile homicide investigations, as well as numerous additional criminal and narcotics investigations.
  • Collect and disseminate intelligence and threat information concerning foreign intelligence and international terrorism to support commands using HUMINT sources.

Undercover agent vs criminal investigative agent skills

Common undercover agent skills
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 100%
Common criminal investigative agent skills
  • Physical Evidence, 14%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 9%
  • Surveillance Operations, 8%
  • Subpoenas, 7%
  • Investigative Reports, 6%
  • Documentary Evidence, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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