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The differences between crime analysts and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a crime analyst has an average salary of $60,253, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.
The top three skills for a crime analyst include criminal justice, AML and patrol. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Crime Analyst | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $60,253 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $28.97 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 29,095 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A crime analyst specializes in gathering and processing data to help law enforcement solve and prevent crimes. They prioritize accurate and sufficient data collection, which is why they visit crime scenes to collect pieces of evidence such as DNA and photographs according to a set of protocols. They must also conduct interviews with witnesses, possible suspects, first responders, and other law enforcement officers. Through the evidence gathered, a crime analyst produces detailed results and reports that will help police officers and detectives to navigate through the cases.
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.
Crime analysts and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crime Analyst | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $60,253 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $82,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baton Rouge, LA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Louisiana | Washington |
| Best paying company | Citi | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a crime analyst and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Crime Analyst | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between crime analysts' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Crime Analyst | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 2.9% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 9% | 7% |