Code enforcement officer vs patrol officer

The differences between code enforcement officers and patrol 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 $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol officer.

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

Code enforcement officer vs patrol officer overview

	Code Enforcement Officer	Patrol Officer
Yearly salary	$40,706	$35,621
Hourly rate	$19.57	$17.13
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	104,295	123,265
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
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 patrol officer do?

The job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.

Code enforcement officer vs patrol officer salary

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

	Code Enforcement Officer	Patrol Officer
Average salary	$40,706	$35,621
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $56,000	Between $27,000 And $46,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Alaska	North Dakota
Best paying company	King County	Mount St. Mary's University
Best paying industry	Government	Government

Differences between code enforcement officer and patrol officer education

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

	Code Enforcement Officer	Patrol Officer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	California State University - Long Beach

Code enforcement officer vs patrol officer demographics

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

	Code Enforcement Officer	Patrol Officer
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 67.3% Female, 32.7%	Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%
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, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between code enforcement officer and patrol 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.

Patrol officer example responsibilities.

Manage surveillance of DUI traffic offenders in Jacksonville
Report and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
Enforce NYS racing guidelines state, rules and regulations.
Protect life and property at the largest regional aviation facility in NYS.
Provide emergency medical assistance as a first responder.
Utilize security vehicle to patrol all residential areas and parking lot ensuring resident safety.

Code enforcement officer vs patrol officer skills

Common code enforcement officer skills

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

Common patrol officer skills

Patrol, 48%
Customer Service, 8%
Public Safety, 7%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 5%
Emergency Situations, 5%
Incident Reports, 2%

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Code Enforcement Officer vs Patrol Officer

Updated January 8, 2025

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