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The differences between protective officers and loss prevention 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 $33,768 average annual salary of a loss prevention officer.
The top three skills for a protective officer include customer service, emergency situations and patrol. The most important skills for a loss prevention officer are patrol, loss prevention, and good judgment.
| Protective Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $40,529 | $33,768 |
| Hourly rate | $19.49 | $16.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 103,885 | 106,512 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Average age | 43 | 33 |
| 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.
A loss prevention officer is a part of a security team who tends to the security of a retail store. Loss prevention officers prevent theft in the store and assist the establishment with theft prevention plans and policies. Typically, they monitor the store's surveillance cameras then walk around for security. They are expected to have a strong will to place themselves in dangerous situations to maintain public safety. It is also their responsibility to determine stock shortages and report missing merchandise.
Protective officers and loss prevention officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Average salary | $40,529 | $33,768 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $58,000 | Between $22,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Miami, FL |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Virginia |
| Best paying company | National Security | Southern Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a protective officer and a loss prevention officer in terms of educational background:
| Protective Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between protective officers' and loss prevention officers' demographics:
| Protective Officer | Loss Prevention Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 33 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 7% |