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The differences between police officers and security assistants 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 $38,261 average annual salary of a security assistant.
The top three skills for a police officer include patrol, public safety and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for a security assistant are customer service, security clearance, and patrol.
| Police Officer | Security Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $52,638 | $38,261 |
| Hourly rate | $25.31 | $18.39 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 116,287 | 102,858 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| 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.
A security assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in a company or establishment's security department. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, organizing equipment such as radios and flashlights, keeping an eye on the inventory of supplies, and liaising with external and internal parties. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, arranging requests, answering calls and correspondence, maintaining records of transactions, and handling paperwork. There are also instances where they must assist clients and employees, adhering to protocols as needed.
Police officers and security assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Police Officer | Security Assistant | |
| Average salary | $52,638 | $38,261 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $71,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | Inter-Con Security Systems |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a police officer and a security assistant in terms of educational background:
| Police Officer | Security Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Pennsylvania State University | - |
Here are the differences between police officers' and security assistants' demographics:
| Police Officer | Security Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| 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, 15.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |