What is the difference between a FBI agent and a nypd homicide detective?

Lots. They are two different jobs and they do two very different types of work. Neither is 'better', you are comparing apples and oranges. I spent over a dozen years as a Homicide Detective, and never had much of a desire to be an FBI agent, although sometimes I am a little jealous of the status that they have.

To start off with, FBI agents need a 4 year degree to get hired. They investigate violations of federal law, and have no jurisdiction of cases involving state criminal statutes.FBI agents rarely investigate murders (unlike on TV). They usually only investigate murders that take place on Federal property, or the death or Federal witnesses and such. They do a great job at white collar crime investigation, they have good bank robbery squads and they devote lots of time and resources to fighting terrorism and espionage. Most were never "real" police officers (meaning men and women who patrol in uniform).

NYPD Homicide Detectives get selected from the ranks of NYPD detectives, all of whom started as as NYPD patrol officers. Most have spent years and years on patrol, and many additional years as a detective investigating other crimes before they are assigned to a Homicide Unit. The way NYPD investigates Homicides is different from what you see on television, and it would take too long to explain. But every big city Homicide cop sees hundreds of death cases a year. Most FBI agents never see one.

Don't get me wrong, FBI agents are great at what they do, and I have tons of respect for them. But, like the other guy said, Homicide detectives are the real deal.

No one would ever want to do that because the FBI pays way more than what the NYPD would pay you to be a detective. Usually you still have to be a patrol officer for some time until you are allowed to become a detective, even with FBI experience you would still have to work as a patrol officer for at least a year.

Nypd Homicide

FBI agents have a college degree (that doesn't mean a NYPD detective doesn't it just means for FBI it is required). A detective has to have experience as a patrol officer first though, of about 2-3 years. FBI is federal and they are sent to a particular bureau after they graduate from the academy in Quantico, Virginia, and they can be sent anywhere. Detectives are officers first, like I said, and graduate from a police academy. A detective in NY is within the jurisdiction of a particular sector in NY, while FBI agents can investigate crimes statewide and across states.

An FBI agent investigates federal crimes. They spend a great deal of time in the office and/or doing interviews.

An NYPD homicide detective is the real deal and they are the real police.

One is local, the other is federal.