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The differences between officers and loss prevention 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 $33,768 average annual salary of a loss prevention officer.
The top three skills for an officer include patrol, customer service and public safety. The most important skills for a loss prevention officer are patrol, loss prevention, and good judgment.
| Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,506 | $33,768 |
| Hourly rate | $25.24 | $16.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 114,267 | 106,512 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Average age | 43 | 33 |
| 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.
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.
Officers and loss prevention officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Average salary | $52,506 | $33,768 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $103,000 | Between $22,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Miami, FL |
| Highest paying state | New York | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Meta | Southern Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | - | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an officer and a loss prevention officer in terms of educational background:
| Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between officers' and loss prevention officers' demographics:
| Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 33 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 7% |