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Officer candidate vs law enforcement officer

The differences between officers candidate and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an officer candidate has an average salary of $44,036, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.

The top three skills for an officer candidate include platoon, combat and leadership. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.

Officer candidate vs law enforcement officer overview

Officer CandidateLaw Enforcement Officer
Yearly salary$44,036$39,219
Hourly rate$21.17$18.86
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs55,985105,817
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Officer candidate vs law enforcement officer salary

Officers candidate and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Officer CandidateLaw Enforcement Officer
Average salary$44,036$39,219
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $76,000Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-University of Nebraska System
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between officer candidate and law enforcement officer education

There are a few differences between an officer candidate and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:

Officer CandidateLaw Enforcement Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldPennsylvania State University

Officer candidate vs law enforcement officer demographics

Here are the differences between officers candidate' and law enforcement officers' demographics:

Officer CandidateLaw Enforcement Officer
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 79.8% Female, 20.2%Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 3.2% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.1% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between officer candidate and law enforcement officer duties and responsibilities

Officer candidate example responsibilities.

  • Lead a platoon of officer candidates through physical training warm-ups and cool downs, focusing on proper technique and execution.
  • Manage procurement operations and export-import logistics operations of recreational vehicles from U.S. to Venezuela.
  • Garrison leadership positions include serving as platoon leader and squad leader
  • Apply leadership, management and supervision techniques when receiving operational orders, disseminating information and assigning mission essential tasks.
  • Complete physical testing standards as well as many academic exams that analyze leadership potential as well as mental cognitive capabilities.
  • Join extracurricular ROTC activities, such as color guard.
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Law enforcement officer example responsibilities.

  • Attend NCO leadership school and receive training on how to properly, and effectively manage personnel.
  • Accomplish scheduled and random security checks of control and classify areas to ensure compliance with DOD resource protection guidelines.
  • Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
  • Operate QRV solo, backing up BLS ambulances.
  • Certify in defensive tactics, firearms, driver's training, professional first aid and CPR.
  • DOT and FMCSA regulation enforcement.
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Officer candidate vs law enforcement officer skills

Common officer candidate skills
  • Platoon, 15%
  • Combat, 11%
  • Leadership, 9%
  • Physical Fitness Test, 9%
  • Logistics, 6%
  • Physical Fitness Training, 6%
Common law enforcement officer skills
  • Patrol, 26%
  • Public Safety, 10%
  • Emergency Situations, 7%
  • Criminal Justice, 6%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Metal Detectors, 3%

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