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The differences between store detectives and asset protection associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an asset protection associate has an average salary of $41,564, which is higher than the $32,824 average annual salary of a store detective.
The top three skills for a store detective include store management, cash handling and CCTV. The most important skills for an asset protection associate are customer service, loss prevention, and store management.
| Store Detective | Asset Protection Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $32,824 | $41,564 |
| Hourly rate | $15.78 | $19.98 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 67,322 | 84,642 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
Store detectives are security professionals who are hired by store or business owners to prevent the act of shoplifting. These detectives must conduct surveillance through CCTV to apprehend shoplifters and dishonest employees who committed theft within the store. They must work closely with local law enforcement and store management to prevent retail theft as well as report those offenders. Security detectives must also monitor employee and public activity by implementing a theft prevention system to protect company assets.
An asset protection associate is responsible for monitoring the operational activities to ensure the safety and security of the assets and enforcing strict regulations to avoid financial loss through theft instances and fraud activities. Asset protection associates' duties include reiterating safety regulations for everyone's compliance, observing and reporting suspicious movements inside the premises, utilizing surveillance cameras and security equipment to trace incidents, and performing necessary inspections for all employees as advised. An asset protection associate must be knowledgeable with the security systems and implement strategies that would contribute to the company's development.
Store detectives and asset protection associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Detective | Asset Protection Associate | |
| Average salary | $32,824 | $41,564 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $22,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | - | Retail |
There are a few differences between a store detective and an asset protection associate in terms of educational background:
| Store Detective | Asset Protection Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between store detectives' and asset protection associates' demographics:
| Store Detective | Asset Protection Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.9% Female, 26.1% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 4.7% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.1% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |