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The differences between protective 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 $40,529 average annual salary of a protective officer.
The top three skills for a protective officer include customer service, emergency situations and patrol. The most important skills for a police officer are patrol, public safety, and law enforcement agencies.
| Protective Officer | Police Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $40,529 | $52,638 |
| Hourly rate | $19.49 | $25.31 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 103,885 | 116,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| 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.
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.
Protective officers and police officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Protective Officer | Police Officer | |
| Average salary | $40,529 | $52,638 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $58,000 | Between $38,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | National Security | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a protective officer and a police officer in terms of educational background:
| Protective Officer | Police Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between protective officers' and police officers' demographics:
| Protective Officer | Police Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| 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, 12.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 7% |