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The differences between border patrol agents and rangers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a border patrol agent has an average salary of $46,060, which is higher than the $32,117 average annual salary of a ranger.
The top three skills for a border patrol agent include patrol, CBP and DHS. The most important skills for a ranger are patrol, customer service, and reservations.
| Border Patrol Agent | Ranger | |
| Yearly salary | $46,060 | $32,117 |
| Hourly rate | $22.14 | $15.44 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 43,748 | 748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A border patrol agent is a government employee who provides the security of international land borders and coastal waters between ports of entry. Border patrol agents are required to apprehend illegal border crossers, criminals, and terrorists from crossing a country to stop them from carrying out illegal activities and attacks. They work closely with other local and federal agencies to ensure legal immigrants, enterprises, and commerce remain unimpeded. Border patrol agents must also use electronic surveillance equipment and respond to electronic sensor alarms in remote areas.
A ranger is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources and environmental conditions. Rangers coordinate with environmental institutions and landowners to identify land conservation strategies to prevent destructible threats of wildfires and calamities. They also monitor the operations within the forests and parks, evaluating efficient development through scientific methodologies and research studies. A ranger creates reports of cost estimates for conservation efforts, authorizing various land operations upon inspection to mitigate the risks of pollution and other hazardous circumstances.
Border patrol agents and rangers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Border Patrol Agent | Ranger | |
| Average salary | $46,060 | $32,117 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $68,000 | Between $23,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Department of Homeland Security | Student Conservation Association |
| Best paying industry | Government | Finance |
There are a few differences between a border patrol agent and a ranger in terms of educational background:
| Border Patrol Agent | Ranger | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between border patrol agents' and rangers' demographics:
| Border Patrol Agent | Ranger | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.0% Female, 14.0% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% Asian, 2.9% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |