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The differences between officers and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an officer has an average salary of $52,506, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.
The top three skills for an officer include patrol, customer service and public safety. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,506 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $25.24 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 114,267 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An officer is responsible for managing the daily operations of the assigned area, ensuring its peace and security by monitoring and reporting unusual and suspicious activities. Officers are the ones enforcing strict safety protocols and procedures to maintain the order within the premises. They also coordinate with law enforcement agencies in conducting appropriate investigations for any violating cases. An officer must be highly-knowledgeable of the law policies, as well as possessing excellent leadership skills to manage the members under the officer's patrol.
The duties of a law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city. Typically, their responsibilities include patrolling their designated area, responding to distress, monitoring suspicious activities and characters, conducting investigations and inspections, and coordinating various services to assist citizens. Moreover, as a law enforcement officer, it is essential to serve as a role model for citizens and uphold the oath to serve and protect.
Officers and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $52,506 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $103,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between an officer and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between officers' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | 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 Percentage | 6% | 7% |