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The differences between law enforcement officers and first officers 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 $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.
The top three skills for a law enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and emergency situations. The most important skills for a first officer are FAA, CFR, and ATP.
| Law Enforcement Officer | First Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,219 | $82,510 |
| Hourly rate | $18.86 | $39.67 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 105,817 | 89,899 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
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.
Law enforcement officers and first officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Enforcement Officer | First Officer | |
| Average salary | $39,219 | $82,510 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $56,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Buffalo, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | University of Nebraska System | Lynden |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a law enforcement officer and a first officer in terms of educational background:
| Law Enforcement Officer | First Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Aviation |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between law enforcement officers' and first officers' demographics:
| Law Enforcement Officer | First Officer | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |