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The differences between assets protection specialists and security assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assets protection specialist has an average salary of $42,374, which is higher than the $38,261 average annual salary of a security assistant.
The top three skills for an assets protection specialist include CCTV, physical security and exception reports. The most important skills for a security assistant are customer service, security clearance, and patrol.
| Assets Protection Specialist | Security Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,374 | $38,261 |
| Hourly rate | $20.37 | $18.39 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 83,267 | 102,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 33 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An assets protection specialist is an individual who is responsible for implementing safety and environmental programs to their assigned store or multiple stores as well as prevent financial loss caused by theft and fraud. Asset protection specialists are required to monitor the store's physical security and audit electronic article surveillance. They also prepare accurate and detailed case reports and interact with law enforcement as well as testify in criminal and civil court actions. Asset protection specialists must also report any hazardous or unsafe condition to the manager on duty.
A security assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in a company or establishment's security department. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, organizing equipment such as radios and flashlights, keeping an eye on the inventory of supplies, and liaising with external and internal parties. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, arranging requests, answering calls and correspondence, maintaining records of transactions, and handling paperwork. There are also instances where they must assist clients and employees, adhering to protocols as needed.
Assets protection specialists and security assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assets Protection Specialist | Security Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,374 | $38,261 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $78,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Credit Suisse | Inter-Con Security Systems |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Government |
There are a few differences between an assets protection specialist and a security assistant in terms of educational background:
| Assets Protection Specialist | Security Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between assets protection specialists' and security assistants' demographics:
| Assets Protection Specialist | Security Assistant | |
| Average age | 33 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |