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The differences between rangers and law enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a law enforcement officer has an average salary of $39,219, which is higher than the $32,117 average annual salary of a ranger.
The top three skills for a ranger include patrol, customer service and reservations. The most important skills for a law enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and emergency situations.
| Ranger | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $32,117 | $39,219 |
| Hourly rate | $15.44 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 748 | 105,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A ranger is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources and environmental conditions. Rangers coordinate with environmental institutions and landowners to identify land conservation strategies to prevent destructible threats of wildfires and calamities. They also monitor the operations within the forests and parks, evaluating efficient development through scientific methodologies and research studies. A ranger creates reports of cost estimates for conservation efforts, authorizing various land operations upon inspection to mitigate the risks of pollution and other hazardous circumstances.
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.
Rangers and law enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Ranger | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average salary | $32,117 | $39,219 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $44,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Washington |
| Best paying company | Student Conservation Association | University of Nebraska System |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a ranger and a law enforcement officer in terms of educational background:
| Ranger | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between rangers' and law enforcement officers' demographics:
| Ranger | Law Enforcement Officer | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 | 7% | 7% |