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The differences between law enforcement officers and parking enforcement officers 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 $38,755 average annual salary of a parking enforcement officer.
The top three skills for a law enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and emergency situations. The most important skills for a parking enforcement officer are parking enforcement, patrol, and motor vehicle.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Parking Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,219 | $38,755 |
| Hourly rate | $18.86 | $18.63 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 105,817 | 120,053 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| 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 parking enforcement officer is responsible for monitoring parking lots, ramps, and streets to make sure that drivers adhere to the parking laws and regulations. It is their duty to patrol assigned areas and monitor parking meters, issuing citations on improperly or illegally parked vehicles. There are also times when they must call for towing services, assess suspicious vehicles and scan their plates, and testify in courts as necessary. Moreover, a parking enforcement officer must maintain records of all issued tickets and respond to concerns professionally.
Law enforcement officers and parking enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Parking Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $39,219 | $38,755 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $28,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Bellingham, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | University of Nebraska System | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a law enforcement officer and a parking enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Parking Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between law enforcement officers' and parking enforcement officers' demographics:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Parking Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9% |
| 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, 12.3% Unknown, 1.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 11.1% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 24% |