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The differences between police officers and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a police officer has an average salary of $52,638, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.
The top three skills for a police officer include patrol, public safety and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Police Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,638 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $25.31 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 116,287 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law. They ensure that people in their assigned community follow the law. They also ensure that proper sanctions are given out to anyone who does not follow. Some police officers are assigned in the field, meaning they work outside of police stations. Those assigned to police stations are responsible for maintaining administrative matters as well, aside from maintaining peace and order. Police officers are expected to be trustworthy, to work with honor, and to keep their integrity intact.
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.
Police officers and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Police Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $52,638 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $71,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a police officer and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Police Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between police officers' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Police Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 60.0% 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% |