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The differences between loss prevention officers and security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a loss prevention officer has an average salary of $33,768, which is higher than the $31,101 average annual salary of a security officer.
The top three skills for a loss prevention officer include patrol, loss prevention and good judgment. The most important skills for a security officer are customer service, ladders, and patrol.
| Loss Prevention Officer | Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $33,768 | $31,101 |
| Hourly rate | $16.23 | $14.95 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 106,512 | 125,879 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 33 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A loss prevention officer is a part of a security team who tends to the security of a retail store. Loss prevention officers prevent theft in the store and assist the establishment with theft prevention plans and policies. Typically, they monitor the store's surveillance cameras then walk around for security. They are expected to have a strong will to place themselves in dangerous situations to maintain public safety. It is also their responsibility to determine stock shortages and report missing merchandise.
A security officer is responsible for maintaining the peace and safety of everyone by regularly patrolling and monitoring surveillance equipment within the assigned premises. Security officers' duties also include reporting suspicious behaviors, restricting trespassers and unauthorized personnel from entering the establishment, providing incident reports for policy violations, and adhering to the standard protocols and legal requirements set by the management. Security offers must also have excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of emergency drills in case any unfortunate circumstances arise.
Loss prevention officers and security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Loss Prevention Officer | Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $33,768 | $31,101 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $51,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Miami, FL | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Washington |
| Best paying company | Southern Healthcare | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a loss prevention officer and a security officer in terms of educational background:
| Loss Prevention Officer | Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between loss prevention officers' and security officers' demographics:
| Loss Prevention Officer | Security Officer | |
| Average age | 33 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |