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Loss prevention agent vs public safety officer

The differences between loss prevention agents and public safety officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a public safety officer has an average salary of $36,596, which is higher than the $36,455 average annual salary of a loss prevention agent.

The top three skills for a loss prevention agent include loss prevention, store management and sales floor. The most important skills for a public safety officer are patrol, patients, and public safety.

Loss prevention agent vs public safety officer overview

Loss Prevention AgentPublic Safety Officer
Yearly salary$36,455$36,596
Hourly rate$17.53$17.59
Growth rate6%3%
Number of jobs103,534122,048
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age3340
Years of experience--

What does a loss prevention agent do?

A loss prevention agent is responsible for averting theft and securing a retail store or similar establishment. They are primarily in charge of monitoring surveillance cameras and roaming around the premises while dressed in civilian clothing, all to observe the surroundings and spot any suspicious behavior. Furthermore, a loss prevention agent must adhere to the policies and standards of the establishment, implement safety and security measures, and coordinate with the police should there be any person caught stealing.

What does a public safety officer do?

Public relations assistants are professionals who are responsible for creating and distributing promotional materials to help clients increase their public image and awareness of their products and services. These assistants are required to help develop and distribute public relations materials such as brochures, pamphlets, newsletters, and sell sheets. They must handle all the communications of their clients to the public by supervising social media content, press releases, and emails. Public relations assistants must also gather materials to be used in trade shows or client presentations.

Loss prevention agent vs public safety officer salary

Loss prevention agents and public safety officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Loss Prevention AgentPublic Safety Officer
Average salary$36,455$36,596
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $62,000Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityUrban Honolulu, HINew Britain, CT
Highest paying stateVirginiaNorth Dakota
Best paying companyComplianceUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryRetailHealth Care

Differences between loss prevention agent and public safety officer education

There are a few differences between a loss prevention agent and a public safety officer in terms of educational background:

Loss Prevention AgentPublic Safety Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Loss prevention agent vs public safety officer demographics

Here are the differences between loss prevention agents' and public safety officers' demographics:

Loss Prevention AgentPublic Safety Officer
Average age3340
Gender ratioMale, 72.8% Female, 27.2%Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between loss prevention agent and public safety officer duties and responsibilities

Loss prevention agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage foreclosure and bankruptcy from inception to completion and mitigate all potential losses within an acceptable range.
  • Perform camera surveillance and patrol the assigned store and assign location while ensuring to maintain a safe and secure store environment.
  • Conduct surveillance and counter-surveillance to detect and apprehend shoplifters, and other criminal activity utilizing CCTV.
  • Patrol assign facility areas to enforce rules and regulations.
  • Operate and monitor security control and access control devices using CCTV, life/safety alarms and systems alerting the necessary authority.
  • Protect company's assets by utilizing state-of-the-art detection and investigation surveillance system, which identify shoplifters and prevent loss of merchandise.

Public safety officer example responsibilities.

  • Manage litigation and bankruptcy matters.
  • Apply hand cuffs, restraints and calm combative irate people, handling emergency situations, report writing, CPR, a.
  • Patrol campus, answer calls: fire, police, ems.
  • Engage in assistance for medical staff in dangerous situations, patient restraints, heavy lifting, and area access.
  • Monitor campus radio and cameras, dispatch emergency calls, issue summonses and utilize the NYSPIN computer communication network.
  • Involve in patient restraints and aggressive patient/visitor confrontations.
  • Show more

Loss prevention agent vs public safety officer skills

Common loss prevention agent skills
  • Loss Prevention, 14%
  • Store Management, 12%
  • Sales Floor, 10%
  • CCTV, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Internal Investigations, 5%
Common public safety officer skills
  • Patrol, 18%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Public Safety, 12%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Emergency Situations, 5%

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