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The differences between criminal justice instructors and law enforcement technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a criminal justice instructor and a law enforcement technician. Additionally, a criminal justice instructor has an average salary of $52,523, which is higher than the $44,124 average annual salary of a law enforcement technician.
The top three skills for a criminal justice instructor include criminal justice, law enforcement and student learning. The most important skills for a law enforcement technician are patrol, emergency situations, and local laws.
| Criminal Justice Instructor | Law Enforcement Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,523 | $44,124 |
| Hourly rate | $25.25 | $21.21 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 24,893 | 6,659 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A criminal justice instructor teaches students criminal justice-related courses. As an instructor, they must develop syllabi and course plans, prepare lectures, prepare learning materials such as presentations and visual aids, administer examinations, and grade students. In addition to facilitating discussions about different criminal justice theories, an instructor may also participate in research studies and coordinate with other instructors for committee works.
A law enforcement technician is responsible for communicating with field units and emergency services to support the functions of the police department. Typical duties include assessing the appropriate dispatch unit to respond, collaborating with other law enforcement agencies, and fielding incoming calls. Additionally, you will be responsible for monitoring inventories, re-stocking supplies, and scheduling maintenance. As a law enforcement technician, you may perform clerical and administrative duties such as storing evidence, filing reports, and entering data. You are also responsible for coordinating the repair and maintenance of facility vehicles.
Criminal justice instructors and law enforcement technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Criminal Justice Instructor | Law Enforcement Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,523 | $44,124 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $82,000 | Between $26,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Kern Community College District | Federal Reserve Bank |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a criminal justice instructor and a law enforcement technician in terms of educational background:
| Criminal Justice Instructor | Law Enforcement Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between criminal justice instructors' and law enforcement technicians' demographics:
| Criminal Justice Instructor | Law Enforcement Technician | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.6% Female, 35.4% | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |