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First officer vs police cadet

The differences between first officers and police cadets can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a first officer has an average salary of $82,510, which is higher than the $33,243 average annual salary of a police cadet.

The top three skills for a first officer include FAA, CFR and ATP. The most important skills for a police cadet are patrol, traffic control, and public safety.

First officer vs police cadet overview

First OfficerPolice Cadet
Yearly salary$82,510$33,243
Hourly rate$39.67$15.98
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs89,89994,220
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

What does a first officer do?

A First Officer is focused on operating the aircraft in a safe and economical manner. They also are responsible for maintaining a high personal standard of discipline.

What does a police cadet do?

Police cadets require multiple police department-relevant skills in traffic control, police reports, public safety, and special events. Those who choose this career will be responsible for participating in training programs that will introduce them to the fundamentals of law enforcement and prepare them for becoming police officers, supporting police operations like traffic control, working on criminal investigation, and performing administrative duties at the station.

First officer vs police cadet salary

First officers and police cadets have different pay scales, as shown below.

First OfficerPolice Cadet
Average salary$82,510$33,243
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $119,000Between $23,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityBuffalo, NYMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateNew YorkAlaska
Best paying companyLyndenMeridian Township
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between first officer and police cadet education

There are a few differences between a first officer and a police cadet in terms of educational background:

First OfficerPolice Cadet
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorAviationCriminal Justice
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

First officer vs police cadet demographics

Here are the differences between first officers' and police cadets' demographics:

First OfficerPolice Cadet
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 87.9% Female, 12.1%Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between first officer and police cadet duties and responsibilities

First officer example responsibilities.

  • Execute and monitor strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
  • Experience with EFIS, FMS and RNAV.
  • Base on the Embraer [] fleet
  • Operate a Lear 35 and 60
  • Contact drone companies in the UK for possible collaboration.
  • Discover new construction trends in the UK via showrooms.
    • Show more

Police cadet example responsibilities.

  • Process requests for background record checks for a variety of agencies using RMS.
  • Prepare teletype requests to run serialize firearms; input data from all seize firearms into CLETS.
  • Perform clerical tasks, filing, data entry, payroll and information research/investigation with NCIC 2000 and SCIC.
  • Automate tow notification process within RMS system.
  • Perform preventative maintenance inspections, routinely servicing minor repairs on equipment and patrol vehicles.
  • General law enforcement responsibilities including dispatch, jail, patrol, investigations, undercover vice/narcotics and supervision.
    • Show more

First officer vs police cadet skills

Common first officer skills
  • FAA, 32%
  • CFR, 27%
  • ATP, 24%
  • PIC, 5%
  • Pilot-In-Command, 4%
  • Flight Operations, 1%
Common police cadet skills
  • Patrol, 18%
  • Traffic Control, 10%
  • Public Safety, 8%
  • Police Academy, 7%
  • Parking Enforcement, 5%
  • Criminal Justice, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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