Post job

Police cadet vs community services officer

The differences between police cadets and community services officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a community services officer has an average salary of $38,039, which is higher than the $33,243 average annual salary of a police cadet.

The top three skills for a police cadet include patrol, traffic control and public safety. The most important skills for a community services officer are patrol, public safety, and traffic control.

Police cadet vs community services officer overview

Police CadetCommunity Services Officer
Yearly salary$33,243$38,039
Hourly rate$15.98$18.29
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs94,220181,257
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

What does a police cadet do?

Police cadets require multiple police department-relevant skills in traffic control, police reports, public safety, and special events. Those who choose this career will be responsible for participating in training programs that will introduce them to the fundamentals of law enforcement and prepare them for becoming police officers, supporting police operations like traffic control, working on criminal investigation, and performing administrative duties at the station.

What does a community services officer do?

Community service offers or CSO support in crime response, investigation, and prevention where police powers are not necessary. The community service officers assist the police officers in terms of upholding order and law in the community. They provide citizens with customer service, community outreach, and patrol. It is their job to implement city codes and other non-criminal police associated duties. They provide non-EMS in-home and on-site assistance to the citizens. Also, they respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks, and more.

Police cadet vs community services officer salary

Police cadets and community services officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Police CadetCommunity Services Officer
Average salary$33,243$38,039
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $47,000Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MNSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateAlaskaWashington
Best paying companyMeridian TownshipCity of Los Angeles
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between police cadet and community services officer education

There are a few differences between a police cadet and a community services officer in terms of educational background:

Police CadetCommunity Services Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Police cadet vs community services officer demographics

Here are the differences between police cadets' and community services officers' demographics:

Police CadetCommunity Services Officer
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 63.4% Female, 36.6%Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 2.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between police cadet and community services officer duties and responsibilities

Police cadet example responsibilities.

  • Process requests for background record checks for a variety of agencies using RMS.
  • Prepare teletype requests to run serialize firearms; input data from all seize firearms into CLETS.
  • Perform clerical tasks, filing, data entry, payroll and information research/investigation with NCIC 2000 and SCIC.
  • Automate tow notification process within RMS system.
  • Perform preventative maintenance inspections, routinely servicing minor repairs on equipment and patrol vehicles.
  • General law enforcement responsibilities including dispatch, jail, patrol, investigations, undercover vice/narcotics and supervision.
  • Show more

Community services officer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
  • Monitor alarms & CCTV, patrol campus, secure buildings, dorms and offer safety escorts to students & faculty.
  • Apply first aid and CPR.
  • Monitor and control CCTV's.
  • Assist law enforcement officers in looking up information on the NCIC.
  • Train in first aid and defensive driving, certify in CPR and EAD.
  • Show more

Police cadet vs community services officer skills

Common police cadet skills
  • Patrol, 18%
  • Traffic Control, 10%
  • Public Safety, 8%
  • Police Academy, 7%
  • Parking Enforcement, 5%
  • Criminal Justice, 4%
Common community services officer skills
  • Patrol, 18%
  • Public Safety, 14%
  • Traffic Control, 10%
  • Parking Enforcement, 4%
  • Criminal Justice, 4%
  • Animal Control, 4%

Browse protective service jobs