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The differences between loss prevention associates and patrol officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a loss prevention associate has an average salary of $38,861, which is higher than the $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol officer.
The top three skills for a loss prevention associate include customer service, patrol and safety standards. The most important skills for a patrol officer are patrol, customer service, and public safety.
| Loss Prevention Associate | Patrol Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $38,861 | $35,621 |
| Hourly rate | $18.68 | $17.13 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 82,313 | 123,265 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 33 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A loss prevention associate is responsible for monitoring the organization's daily operations, maintaining the safety and security of all network systems to avoid data theft. Loss prevention associates take immediate actions on all related suspicious activities that would compromise the company's reputation and financial status. They regularly check surveillance technologies to maintain asset protection and operational stability at all times. A loss prevention associate should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, especially on writing incident reports and escalating unusual activities to the management for immediate resolution.
The job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.
Loss prevention associates and patrol officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Loss Prevention Associate | Patrol Officer | |
| Average salary | $38,861 | $35,621 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $69,000 | Between $27,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salisbury, MD | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | AIG | Mount St. Mary's University |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Government |
There are a few differences between a loss prevention associate and a patrol officer in terms of educational background:
| Loss Prevention Associate | Patrol Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between loss prevention associates' and patrol officers' demographics:
| Loss Prevention Associate | Patrol Officer | |
| Average age | 33 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |