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The differences between law enforcement officers and security patrol 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 $31,673 average annual salary of a security patrol officer.
The top three skills for a law enforcement officer include patrol, public safety and emergency situations. The most important skills for a security patrol officer are patrol, customer service, and security services.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Security Patrol Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,219 | $31,673 |
| Hourly rate | $18.86 | $15.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 105,817 | 131,574 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| 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 Security Patrol Officer ensures the safety and security of the establishment under guard. The security officer ensures that all facility areas are secured, does regular patrols, routine inspections, and monitors the premises, and logs in daily reports for management to assess. The Security Patrol Officer's role is vital for the continued performance of an establishment as it prevents crime, stealing, and other heinous acts that may severely affect a company's operations.
Law enforcement officers and security patrol officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Enforcement Officer | Security Patrol Officer | |
| Average salary | $39,219 | $31,673 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | University of Nebraska System | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Government | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a law enforcement officer and a security patrol officer in terms of educational background:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Security Patrol Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | - |
Here are the differences between law enforcement officers' and security patrol officers' demographics:
| Law Enforcement Officer | Security Patrol Officer | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 80.6% Female, 19.4% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 52.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |