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The differences between police officers and police cadets 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 $33,243 average annual salary of a police cadet.
The top three skills for a police officer include patrol, public safety and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a police cadet are patrol, traffic control, and public safety.
| Police Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Yearly salary | $52,638 | $33,243 |
| Hourly rate | $25.31 | $15.98 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 116,287 | 94,220 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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.
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.
Police officers and police cadets have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Police Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Average salary | $52,638 | $33,243 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $71,000 | Between $23,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | Meridian Township |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a police officer and a police cadet in terms of educational background:
| Police Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between police officers' and police cadets' demographics:
| Police Officer | Police Cadet | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |