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The differences between law enforcement officers and police cadets 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 $33,243 average annual salary of a police cadet.
The top three skills for a law enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and emergency situations. The most important skills for a police cadet are patrol, traffic control, and public safety.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Yearly salary | $39,219 | $33,243 |
| Hourly rate | $18.86 | $15.98 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 105,817 | 94,220 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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.
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.
Law enforcement officers and police cadets have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Average salary | $39,219 | $33,243 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $23,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of Nebraska System | Meridian Township |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a law enforcement officer and a police cadet in terms of educational background:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between law enforcement officers' and police cadets' demographics:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6% |
| 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, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |