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The differences between undercover agents and special investigators 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 special investigator. Additionally, an undercover agent has an average salary of $67,706, which is higher than the $50,623 average annual salary of a special investigator.
The top three skills for an undercover agent include law enforcement agencies, and . The most important skills for a special investigator are law enforcement agencies, background checks, and child abuse.
Undercover agents and special investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Undercover Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Average salary | $67,706 | $50,623 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $125,000 | Between $31,000 And $80,000 |
| 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 an undercover agent and a special investigator in terms of educational background:
| Undercover Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between undercover agents' and special investigators' demographics:
| Undercover Agent | Special Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.0% Female, 36.0% | Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |