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The differences between protective officers and patrol 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 $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol officer.
The top three skills for a protective officer include customer service, emergency situations and patrol. The most important skills for a patrol officer are patrol, customer service, and public safety.
| Protective Officer | Patrol Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $40,529 | $35,621 |
| Hourly rate | $19.49 | $17.13 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 103,885 | 123,265 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| 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 job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.
Protective officers and patrol officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Officer | Patrol Officer | |
| Average salary | $40,529 | $35,621 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $58,000 | Between $27,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | National Security | Mount St. Mary's University |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a protective officer and a patrol officer in terms of educational background:
| Protective Officer | Patrol Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between protective officers' and patrol officers' demographics:
| Protective Officer | Patrol Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| 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, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 7% |