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The differences between security guards 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 $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.
The top three skills for a security guard include customer service, patrol and ladders. The most important skills for a police officer are patrol, public safety, and law enforcement agencies.
| Security Guard | Police Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $31,983 | $52,638 |
| Hourly rate | $15.38 | $25.31 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 101,728 | 116,287 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 2 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
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.
Security guards and police officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Guard | Police Officer | |
| Average salary | $31,983 | $52,638 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $38,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakewood, WA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Basin Electric Power Cooperative | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Government |
There are a few differences between a security guard and a police officer in terms of educational background:
| Security Guard | Police Officer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | Pennsylvania State University |
Here are the differences between security guards' and police officers' demographics:
| Security Guard | Police Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.0% 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% |