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The differences between patrol officers and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a law enforcement officer has an average salary of $39,219, which is higher than the $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol officer.
The top three skills for a patrol officer include patrol, customer service and public safety. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Patrol Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,621 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $17.13 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 123,265 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.
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.
Patrol officers and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patrol Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $35,621 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $46,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mount St. Mary's University | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a patrol officer and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Patrol Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between patrol officers' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Patrol Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% 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 Percentage | 7% | 7% |