Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between loss prevention associates and security assistants 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 $38,261 average annual salary of a security assistant.
The top three skills for a loss prevention associate include customer service, patrol and safety standards. The most important skills for a security assistant are customer service, security clearance, and patrol.
| Loss Prevention Associate | Security Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,861 | $38,261 |
| Hourly rate | $18.68 | $18.39 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 82,313 | 102,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 33 | 43 |
| 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.
A security assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in a company or establishment's security department. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, organizing equipment such as radios and flashlights, keeping an eye on the inventory of supplies, and liaising with external and internal parties. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, arranging requests, answering calls and correspondence, maintaining records of transactions, and handling paperwork. There are also instances where they must assist clients and employees, adhering to protocols as needed.
Loss prevention associates and security assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Loss Prevention Associate | Security Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,861 | $38,261 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $69,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salisbury, MD | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Alaska |
| Best paying company | AIG | Inter-Con Security Systems |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Government |
There are a few differences between a loss prevention associate and a security assistant in terms of educational background:
| Loss Prevention Associate | Security Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between loss prevention associates' and security assistants' demographics:
| Loss Prevention Associate | Security Assistant | |
| Average age | 33 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| 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, 15.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |