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The differences between probation officers and police 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 $47,252 average annual salary of a probation officer.
The top three skills for a probation officer include criminal justice, mental health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a police officer are patrol, public safety, and law enforcement agencies.
| Probation Officer | Police Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $47,252 | $52,638 |
| Hourly rate | $22.72 | $25.31 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 55,952 | 116,287 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A probation officer is responsible for monitoring probationers' cases, evaluating terms, and overseeing rehabilitation processes. Probation officers strategize probational operations, as well as recommending treatment plans to achieve probational objectives. They also maintain progress reports, deciding on release requirements and other conditional services to motivate the probationers on adhering to their treatment procedures. A probation officer assesses the probationers' behaviors during the probationary period, regularly interacting with them to identify their challenges, and administering remedial actions.
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.
Probation officers and police officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Probation Officer | Police Officer | |
| Average salary | $47,252 | $52,638 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $69,000 | Between $38,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Hamilton | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a probation officer and a police officer in terms of educational background:
| Probation Officer | Police Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between probation officers' and police officers' demographics:
| Probation Officer | Police Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 7% |