Law enforcement officer vs loss prevention analyst

The differences between law enforcement officers and loss prevention analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a law enforcement officer has an average salary of $39,219, which is higher than the $38,684 average annual salary of a loss prevention analyst.

The top three skills for a law enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and emergency situations. The most important skills for a loss prevention analyst are loss prevention, customer service, and camera surveillance.

Law enforcement officer vs loss prevention analyst overview

	Law Enforcement Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Yearly salary	$39,219	$38,684
Hourly rate	$18.86	$18.60
Growth rate	3%	6%
Number of jobs	105,817	62,658
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	40	33
Years of experience	-	-

What does a law enforcement officer do?

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.

What does a loss prevention analyst do?

A loss prevention analyst designs and develops loss prevention programs, typically for retail establishments. They are in charge of providing analytical services primarily to avoid or resolve cases of theft and fraud. Among their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing financial and inventory data, inspecting alarm systems and protocols, performing research and analysis to identify the best practices, determining the strengths and weaknesses of current loss prevention techniques, and implementing solutions against vulnerable areas. Furthermore, a loss prevention analyst must maintain an active communication line with managers and loss prevention officers for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Law enforcement officer vs loss prevention analyst salary

Law enforcement officers and loss prevention analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Law Enforcement Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Average salary	$39,219	$38,684
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $50,000	Between $21,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	Washington	Hawaii
Best paying company	University of Nebraska System	Barclays
Best paying industry	Government	Finance

Differences between law enforcement officer and loss prevention analyst education

There are a few differences between a law enforcement officer and a loss prevention analyst in terms of educational background:

	Law Enforcement Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	Pennsylvania State University	California State University - Bakersfield

Law enforcement officer vs loss prevention analyst demographics

Here are the differences between law enforcement officers' and loss prevention analysts' demographics:

	Law Enforcement Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Average age	40	33
Gender ratio	Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7%	Male, 67.7% Female, 32.3%
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, 8.3% Unknown, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between law enforcement officer and loss prevention analyst duties and responsibilities

Law enforcement officer example responsibilities.

Attend NCO leadership school and receive training on how to properly, and effectively manage personnel.
Accomplish scheduled and random security checks of control and classify areas to ensure compliance with DOD resource protection guidelines.
Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
Operate QRV solo, backing up BLS ambulances.
Certify in defensive tactics, firearms, driver's training, professional first aid and CPR.
DOT and FMCSA regulation enforcement.

Loss prevention analyst example responsibilities.

Manage foreclosure and bankruptcy from inception to completion and mitigate all potential losses within an acceptable range.
Ensure that physical security controls (CCTV, EAS, alarm systems) are operating effectively to minimize shrinkage.
Monitor CCTV cameras, report and apprehend shop-lifters, and walk around the store to observe anything suspicious.
Analyze bankruptcy and foreclosure files in order to devise a strategy to minimize loss and maximize financial recovery.
Protect company's assets by utilizing state-of-the-art detection and investigation surveillance system, which identify shoplifters and prevent loss of merchandise.

Law enforcement officer vs loss prevention analyst skills

Common law enforcement officer skills

Patrol, 26%
Public Safety, 10%
Emergency Situations, 7%
Criminal Justice, 6%
CPR, 3%
Metal Detectors, 3%

Common loss prevention analyst skills

Loss Prevention, 24%
Customer Service, 18%
Camera Surveillance, 5%
Basic Math, 5%
Risk Management, 4%
CCTV, 4%

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Law Enforcement Officer vs Loss Prevention Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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