Code enforcement officer vs law enforcement officer

The differences between code enforcement officers and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a code enforcement officer has an average salary of $40,706, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.

The top three skills for a code enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and community development. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.

Code enforcement officer vs law enforcement officer overview

	Code Enforcement Officer	Law Enforcement Officer
Yearly salary	$40,706	$39,219
Hourly rate	$19.57	$18.86
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	104,295	105,817
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	-	-

What does a code enforcement officer do?

Code enforcement officers are professionals who work for the government to ensure that properties within their jurisdiction are following the zoning laws and building ordinances of a city, town, or county. These officers are required to inspect properties and record violations as part of their regular assessment or in response to complaints. They must explain to property owners about building codes and zoning laws so that they can avoid confusion and increase awareness of all violations. Code enforcement officers must also keep records of case violations and complaints while submitting the summary reports to their supervisors.

What does a law enforcement officer do?

The duties of a law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city. Typically, their responsibilities include patrolling their designated area, responding to distress, monitoring suspicious activities and characters, conducting investigations and inspections, and coordinating various services to assist citizens. Moreover, as a law enforcement officer, it is essential to serve as a role model for citizens and uphold the oath to serve and protect.

Code enforcement officer vs law enforcement officer salary

Code enforcement officers and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Code Enforcement Officer	Law Enforcement Officer
Average salary	$40,706	$39,219
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $56,000	Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Washington
Best paying company	King County	University of Nebraska System
Best paying industry	Government	Government

Differences between code enforcement officer and law enforcement officer education

There are a few differences between a code enforcement officer and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:

	Code Enforcement Officer	Law Enforcement Officer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	Pennsylvania State University

Code enforcement officer vs law enforcement officer demographics

Here are the differences between code enforcement officers' and law enforcement officers' demographics:

	Code Enforcement Officer	Law Enforcement Officer
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 67.3% Female, 32.7%	Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 3.2% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.1% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between code enforcement officer and law enforcement officer duties and responsibilities

Code enforcement officer example responsibilities.

Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
Review variance, special use and any land use applications.
Review plans and specifications for zoning, parking and setback requirements.
Enforce city and state ordinances, patrol city for violations against the city building code and animal laws.
Patrol assign areas within the city limits while operating a city vehicle to enforce nuisance and property maintenance codes.
Create simulations for force-on-force firearms training/defensive tactics for customers and train the trainers at Police/Sheriff departments.

Law enforcement officer example responsibilities.

Attend NCO leadership school and receive training on how to properly, and effectively manage personnel.
Accomplish scheduled and random security checks of control and classify areas to ensure compliance with DOD resource protection guidelines.
Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
Operate QRV solo, backing up BLS ambulances.
Certify in defensive tactics, firearms, driver's training, professional first aid and CPR.
DOT and FMCSA regulation enforcement.

Code enforcement officer vs law enforcement officer skills

Common code enforcement officer skills

Patrol, 12%
Public Safety, 7%
Community Development, 5%
Municipal Codes, 4%
Code Compliance, 4%
Plumbing, 4%

Common law enforcement officer skills

Patrol, 26%
Public Safety, 10%
Emergency Situations, 7%
Criminal Justice, 6%
CPR, 3%
Metal Detectors, 3%

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Code Enforcement Officer
Code Enforcement Officer vs Law Enforcement Officer

Updated January 8, 2025

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