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The differences between protective officers and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a protective officer has an average salary of $40,529, which is higher than the $39,219 average annual salary of a law enforcement officer.
The top three skills for a protective officer include customer service, emergency situations and patrol. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Protective Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $40,529 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $19.49 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 103,885 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A protective officer is in charge of preventing theft and damages in stores and other establishments. Among their responsibilities include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, patrolling areas, keeping an eye on suspicious activities and behavior, developing strategies to enforce security protocols, and responding to distress. There are also instances where they must conduct inspections and produce reports. Furthermore, as a protective officer, it is essential to coordinate with law enforcement should the situation require.
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.
Protective officers and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $40,529 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $58,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | National Security | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a protective officer and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Protective Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between protective officers' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Protective Officer | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | 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 | 6% | 7% |