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Loss prevention specialist vs public safety officer

The differences between loss prevention specialists and public safety officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a loss prevention specialist has an average salary of $47,451, which is higher than the $36,596 average annual salary of a public safety officer.

The top three skills for a loss prevention specialist include customer service, safety program and store management. The most important skills for a public safety officer are patrol, patients, and public safety.

Loss prevention specialist vs public safety officer overview

Loss Prevention SpecialistPublic Safety Officer
Yearly salary$47,451$36,596
Hourly rate$22.81$17.59
Growth rate6%3%
Number of jobs59,094122,048
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4940
Years of experience4-

What does a loss prevention specialist do?

A loss prevention specialist is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the store premises from shoplifters and even from employees' suspicious activities. Loss prevention specialists manage the installation of surveillance devices, monitor the daily store operations, and track business and financial transactions from the database. They also coordinate with law enforcement personnel for investigation on theft cases and other related retail complications. A loss prevention specialist must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills, especially on preparing incident reports and apprehending violators.

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 specialist vs public safety officer salary

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

Loss Prevention SpecialistPublic Safety Officer
Average salary$47,451$36,596
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $87,000Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew Britain, CT
Highest paying stateHawaiiNorth Dakota
Best paying companyBooz Allen HamiltonUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryAutomotiveHealth Care

Differences between loss prevention specialist and public safety officer education

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

Loss Prevention SpecialistPublic Safety Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Loss prevention specialist vs public safety officer demographics

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

Loss Prevention SpecialistPublic Safety Officer
Average age4940
Gender ratioMale, 72.0% Female, 28.0%Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 1.2% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%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 Percentage18%7%

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

Loss prevention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage foreclosure and bankruptcy from inception to completion and mitigate all potential losses within an acceptable range.
  • Maintain all aspects of store security, including motion cameras and EAS security systems.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of the store's alarm system and EAS system.
  • Conduct internal investigations base on POS exceptions reports, known shortages or confidential tips/leads.
  • Review surveillance footage, POS data, and video of clients operations for theft and operational deficiencies.
  • Patrol areas need by management to watch out and see if there is any attempting to steal within the store.
  • Show more

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 specialist vs public safety officer skills

Common loss prevention specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 48%
  • Safety Program, 15%
  • Store Management, 12%
  • CCTV, 3%
  • Criminal Justice, 3%
  • Emergency Situations, 2%
Common public safety officer skills
  • Patrol, 18%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Public Safety, 12%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Emergency Situations, 5%

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