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The differences between airline security representatives and security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an airline security representative has an average salary of $45,069, which is higher than the $31,101 average annual salary of a security officer.
The top three skills for an airline security representative include DOD, SCI and security clearance. The most important skills for a security officer are customer service, ladders, and patrol.
| Airline Security Representative | Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $45,069 | $31,101 |
| Hourly rate | $21.67 | $14.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 94,082 | 125,879 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An airline security representative is an airport employee who screens passengers and visitors for forbidden articles such as weapons or explosives to prevent them from being carried into the restricted area of the air terminal. Airline security representatives must examine the contents of trays and direct individuals to pass through the metal-detecting device. They are required to place carry-on baggage or other containers onto the x-ray device and monitor the screen to detect forbidden articles. Airline security representatives must also screen boarding passengers for aircraft hijackers who are profiled by the Federal Aviation Administration.
A security officer is responsible for maintaining the peace and safety of everyone by regularly patrolling and monitoring surveillance equipment within the assigned premises. Security officers' duties also include reporting suspicious behaviors, restricting trespassers and unauthorized personnel from entering the establishment, providing incident reports for policy violations, and adhering to the standard protocols and legal requirements set by the management. Security offers must also have excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of emergency drills in case any unfortunate circumstances arise.
Airline security representatives and security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Airline Security Representative | Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $45,069 | $31,101 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $80,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | - | Utilities |
There are a few differences between an airline security representative and a security officer in terms of educational background:
| Airline Security Representative | Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between airline security representatives' and security officers' demographics:
| Airline Security Representative | Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 5.9% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |