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The differences between security police officers and security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a security police officer has an average salary of $42,481, which is higher than the $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.
The top three skills for a security police officer include patrol, patients and CPR. The most important skills for a security guard are customer service, patrol, and ladders.
| Security Police Officer | Security Guard | |
| Yearly salary | $42,481 | $31,983 |
| Hourly rate | $20.42 | $15.38 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 117,426 | 101,728 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Security police officers work in teams and individually, depending on their respective assignments. They patrol, escort, and investigate their area of responsibility for everyone in that radius's safety. Under general supervision, they protect their surroundings from criminal activities, accidents, and fires or natural disasters on top of providing outstanding customer service. They complete maintenance requirements for equipment operation, sound alarms in case of emergencies, and monitor surveillance equipment. They are also responsible for maintaining access control areas and monitoring activities in the building checkpoints.
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.
Security police officers and security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Police Officer | Security Guard | |
| Average salary | $42,481 | $31,983 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $55,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
| Best paying industry | - | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a security police officer and a security guard in terms of educational background:
| Security Police Officer | Security Guard | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between security police officers' and security guards' demographics:
| Security Police Officer | Security Guard | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.5% Female, 18.5% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |