Careers in Criminal Justice

Whether you want to advance your criminal justice career or find a new job in the field, this page can help guide your research. It features educational requirements, salary information, job availability, an employment outlook table, and links to dozens of interviews, including exclusive videos with former King County Sheriff, Sue Rahr, and current Ada County Sheriff, Gary Raney.

Criminal justice careers are found at the federal, state, county, and local levels, as well as in the private sector. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of  2020, roughly 3 million workers were employed in the criminal justice field. And, the average annual wage for a criminal justice employee was about $52,220 as of May 2020. This broader field includes subfields such as law enforcement, corrections, forensic science, homeland security, private security, academia, and legal services. Nearly 75 career profiles are featured in this guide that fall under the aforementioned broad categories.

Careers in criminal justice are found at the federal, state, county, and local levels, as well as in the private sector. According to the BLS, as of 2020, roughly 3 million workers were employed in the criminal justice field. This broader field includes subfields such as law enforcement, corrections, forensic science, homeland security, private security, academia, and legal services.

What is Criminal Justice?

The term criminal justice refers to the laws, rules, and agencies that are responsible for holding criminals accountable for actions that are against the law. The criminal justice system is made up of institutions and government agencies, including the FBI, other federal agencies, local, state, and federal courts, prisons, and the local and state police forces. The goal of the system is to identify crimes and the criminals who commit them. Within this system, criminals are tried, detained, and punished for breaking the law. 

If you are interested in learning about the different components of the criminal justice system and how it works, then you may be interested in studying criminal justice. Or, if you are passionate about protecting laws and ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions — or if you plan to attend law school one day — then studying criminal justice may be right for you. 

Working in a field like criminal justice requires you to have a wide variety of skills, as there are many job duties you will take on in a role in this field. A few of the skills that are relevant for a degree in criminal justice include strong verbal and written communication skills, an ability to research, excellent computer knowledge, and the ability to collaborate with other departments or agencies as well as the general public.

Top Careers in Criminal Justice

• Lawyer
• CIA Officer
• Information Security Analyst
• First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Criminal Investigator
• Homicide Detective
• ICE Agent
• Forensic Psychologist
• Forensic Accountant

Research Criminal Justice Careers

The following sortable table will help you compare education requirements, salary, and job availability for dozens of careers you can pursue in the criminal justice field based on 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other trusted sources. For instance, you can learn what an FBI agent salary is or find out the answer to the question of, “What is a paralegal?” below. You can also take a look at our guide for the best criminal justice jobs.

Job Title	Area	Minimum Education Required*	Typical Education Achieved*	Number Employed in US (Higher = Better)	Nat'l Average Annual Openings	Average Salary
Air Marshal	Homeland Security	Bachelor's 1	Bachelor's to Master's	3500 2	N/A	$67600 3
Bailiff	Legal	High School	High School to Bachelor's	17730	560	$47400
Blood Spatter Analyst	Forensics	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Forensic Science Technician	See Forensic Science Technician	$65000
Border Patrol Agent	Homeland Security	High School	Bachelor's to Master's	20000 4	Varies	$31209 5
CIA Analyst	Homeland Security	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	Classified	Classified	$103590
CIA Officer	Homeland Security	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	Classified	Classified	$95000
Computer Forensics Investigator	Forensics	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	N/A	N/A	$60590 26
Conservation Officer	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Fish and Game Warden	See Fish and Game Warden	$48700
Correctional Officer	Corrections	High School	High School to Bachelor's	427790	14300	$47410
Correctional Treatment Specialist	Corrections	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	87950	2130	$55690
Court Clerk	Legal	High School	Associate's	130190	1480	$43490
Crime Lab Analyst	Forensics	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Forensic Technician	See Forensic Technician	$60590
Crime Scene Investigator	Forensics/Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Criminal Investigator	See Criminal Investigator	$89300
Criminal Investigator	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	106580	2830	$53320
Criminal Law Paralegal	Legal	Associate's	Associate's to Bachelor's	See Paralegal	See Paralegal	$52920
Customs and Border Protection Officer	Homeland Security	High School	High School to Bachelor's	20000	N/A	$67290 6
DEA Agent	Law Enforcement	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	5000 7	N/A	$82100;8
Deputy Sheriff	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Police Officer	See Police Officer	$65400 9
Emergency Management Director	Homeland Security	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	9840	190	$76250
FBI Agent	Law Enforcement	Bachelor's	Bachelor's	13913 10	N/A	N/A
Fire and Police Dispatcher	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Associate's	98600	833	$43390
Fire Investigator	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	12290	430	$64610
First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	42520	1530	$67600
First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	100370	4300	$97180
Fish and Game Warden	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	6320	200	$57810
Forensic Accountant	Forensics	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	N/A	N/A	$73560 11
Forensic Anthropologist	Forensics	Master's	Master's	N/A	N/A	$66810 12
Forensic Ballistics Expert	Forensics	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Forensic Science Technician	See Forensic Science Technician	$60090
Forensic Nurse	Forensics	Associate's	Associate's to Bachelor's	N/A	N/A	$777300 13
Forensic Psychologist	Forensics	Master's	Doctorate	N/A	N/A	$82120 14
Forensic Science Technician	Forensics	High School	High School to Bachelor's	14070	990	$60590
Fraud Investigator	Private Sector	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Private Investigator	See Private Investigator	$69520
Homicide Detective	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Criminal Investigator	See Criminal Investigator	$63380
ICE Agent	Homeland Security	Bachelor's**	Bachelor's to Master's	N/A	N/A	$63380 15
Information Security Analyst	Private Sector	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	88880	2550	$103590
Juvenile Probation Officer	Corrections	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	See Probation Officer	See Probation Officer	$55690
Lawyer	Legal	Doctorate	Doctorate	609930	15770	$126930
Narcotics Officer	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Police Officer	See Police Officer	$62960
Paralegal	Legal	Associate's	Associate's to Bachelor's	271930	8270	$52920
Parking Enforcement Officer	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	8710	280	$42070
Parole Officer	Corrections	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	91300	692	$55690
Police Officer	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	653740	25840	$67290
Private Investigator	Private Sector	High School	High School to Bachelor's	30460	1100	$53320
Probation Officer	Corrections	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	87950	2130	$55690
Secret Service Agent	Homeland Security	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	3200 16	N/A	$67290 17
Security Guard	Private Sector	High School	High School to Some College	1097660	20960	$30370
Sheriff	Law Enforcement	High School	Bachelor's to Master's	3080 18	Varies	N/A
State Trooper	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	59390 19	See Police Officer	$67290 20
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor	Corrections	High School	High School to Master's	87090	4110	$47660
Transit and Railroad Police	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	4060	130	$60200
Transportation Security Screener	Homeland Security	High School	High School	41820	660	$40960
United States Park Police	Law Enforcement	High School	High School to Bachelor's	See Police Officer	See Police Officer	$67290
US Marshal	Law Enforcement	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	3738 21	N/A	N/A
Victims Advocate	Law Enforcement	Bachelor's	Bachelor's to Master's	N/A	N/A	$50000 22
Youth Correctional Counselor	Corrections	High School	High School to Master's	See Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	See Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	$55690

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Table Footnotes

*"High school" refers to a high school diploma or GED
**Military experience considered as possible alternative to bachelor's degree
1. Air Marshal:�Chron, Federal Air Marshal
2. Air Marshal:�Estimated from union pay case reported by CNN�(data for air marshal not available)
3. Air Marshal:�Salary estimated from various sources, including Glassdoor
4. Border Patrol Agent:�Dept. of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection
5. Border Patrol Agent:�US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), General Schedule Increase
6. Customs and Border Protection Officer:�US Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table, 2015-GS�(Estimated midpoint at GL-7 with 3 years of step up.)
7. DEA Agent:�US Drug Enforcement Administration
8. DEA Agent:�Salary for federal segmentation of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers�(data for DEA agent not available)
9. Deputy Sheriff:�Salary for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers�(data for deputy sheriff not available)
10. FBI Agent:�US Department of Justice, Today's FBI: Facts and Figures, 2013-14
11. Forensic Accountant:�Salary for Accountants and Auditors�(salary data for forensic accountant not available)
12. Forensic Anthropologist:�Salary for Anthropologists and Archeologists�(salary data for forensic anthropologist not available)
13. Forensic Nurse:�Salary for Registered Nurses�(salary data for forensic nurse not available)
14. Forensic Psychology:�Salary for Psychologists�(salary data for forensic psychologist not available)
15. ICE Agent:�Salary for Detectives and Criminal Investigators�(salary data for ICE agent not available)
16. Secret Service Agent:�United States Secret Service
17. Secret Service Agent:�US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Law Enforcement Officers
18: Sheriff:�National Sheriffs' Association
19. State Trooper:�Data for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers�(data for state trooper not available)
20. State Trooper:�Data for state police segmentation of Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers�(data for state trooper not available)
21. US Marshal:�US Marshals: Facts and Figures (2015)
22. Victims Advocate:�Salary for Social Workers�(salary data for victims advocate not available)
23.�Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment by Detailed Occupation
24.�Bureau of Labor Statistics: National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
25.�US Department of Homeland Security
26. Computer Forensics Investigator:�https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Forensic_Computer_Analyst/Salary

Criminal Justice Career Interviews

See all Criminal Justice Interviews

Exclusive CJDS Interview: Sue Rahr

While jobs in the criminal justice and police fields have been historically reserved for men, women in law enforcement are becoming more and more common, as are females in the criminal justice field as a whole. In 2013, the FBI released data showing that nationwide, women represented about a quarter of all law enforcement employees and just over 10% of law enforcement officers.¹ Not surprisingly, women represent more civilian roles in law enforcement, with the same data reporting that women occupy nearly 40% of civilian roles in law enforcement.¹

Sue Rahr was the first woman sheriff of King County and served in this role for seven years, leading 1,000 employees and handling an operating budget of over $150 million. Since her success as sheriff, Rahr has transitioned into key training and thought leadership roles for the Department. Below is our entire interview with Sue Rahr, former King County Sheriff. Enjoy!

Criminal Justice Careers Salary and Outlook

The criminal justice career sector is one of the fastest growing in the United States. Across the nation, there is a continued, heightened focus on law enforcement, immigration, public safety, and security, which has created a high demand. This growth is continuing into the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which estimates that police and detective employment will grow 5% through 2029. The bottom line: entry-level and high-paying criminal justice jobs are available now and into the future.

Criminal justice salaries vary widely based on the criminal justice career that you choose. In 2020, for example, police officers and detectives earned a median salary of $67,290, forensic science technicians made a median salary of $60,590 per year, paralegals, and legal assistants earned a median of $52,920, and corrections officers and bailiffs made $47,440 as a median salary nationwide.^2,3,4,5 Additional factors that will contribute to the salary of jobs in criminal justice include education level, experience, and location. Entry level criminal justice jobs will typically pay less than mid-level criminal justice careers.

Colleges and universities offer a number of criminal justice degrees and training programs, several of them designed specifically for working professionals. You can conveniently obtain education through online programs, which provide specialized training and education at your fingertips – complete your classes online, at your own pace, and graduate with the knowledge you need to begin your criminal justice job search or advance your criminal justice career.

CJDS FACT: Cybersecurity is an in-demand position at the Homeland Security Department, which developed Cyber Storm, the Department of Homeland Security's biennial exercise series. Cyber Storm provides the framework for the most extensive government-sponsored cybersecurity exercise of its kind and is designed to strengthen cyber preparedness in the public and private sectors.

Top Related Degrees for a Career in Criminal Justice

• Law Enforcement
• Counterterrorism
• Computer Forensics
• Homeland Security
• Criminology
• Forensic Science
• Forensic Nursing
• Corrections
• Cybersecurity
• Legal Nursing

All Degrees

Top 6 Trending Career-Related Criminal Justice Search Phrases

The following career-related search phrases were our top six. What does this mean? It means that these six search phrases are hot right now for our users - individuals who are looking to start or advance their careers in criminal justice.

1. homicide detective
2. blood spatter analyst
3. homeland security degree
4. computer forensics degree
5. how to become a fish and game warden
6. law enforcement degree

Criminal Justice Career Centers

Visit our criminal justice career centers below to learn all about specific careers in criminal justice and access our free informational resource pages. The following career fields offer promising job prospects, competitive pay, and are popular areas of study for criminal justice college students.

Police Officer Career Center

Learn about the typical path to becoming a police officer as well as possible exceptions for previous experience. Research popular degrees that can help you get started in your law enforcement career. Visit law enforcement career pages from Homicide Detective to State Trooper to get an idea of what type of law enforcement career most interests you and how you might best approach the career. Read our Best Police Career Advice article, which features Q&A from 35 respected law enforcement officials. We have 17+ law enforcement interviews with sheriffs, FBI and forensics specialists, and gang investigators. This career center features police department requirements by popular metro areas, State Trooper requirements, the top police blogs and more. Visit the Police Officer Degree and Career Center if you think a career in law enforcement is up your alley.

Homeland Security Career Center

The Department of Homeland Security was created after 9/11 with the mission of protecting the country’s citizens from domestic and foreign attacks. The Homeland Security Career Center gives you more insight into this powerful government department and what career opportunities exist within. We specifically call out the divisions around the country that often lead to opportunities within the department (such as Immigration Enforcement, US Customs, and Border Enforcement), degrees that could be helpful for entrance into those careers, and schools that offer said programs. The Career Center discusses salary and benefits, career outlook, as well as related articles and the Top Homeland Security Blogs. Visit the Homeland Security Career Center to learn more.

Forensics Degree and Career Center

Learn about what it takes to start a career in Forensics. This career center has information on all the leading forensics career profiles like computer forensics, forensic accounting, forensic nursing, forensic psychology, and forensic science technician. Each career profile also features related degrees from top schools offering programs in that field. Want to know more about forensic psychology? Read our exclusive interview with forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner, MD, our other forensics articles, or visit the some of the forensic blogs we’ve compiled in our Top Forensics Blogs list. Visit the Forensics Degree and Career Center for more information about a forensics career.

Corrections Career Center

Interested in a career or degree in the field of Corrections? Read about criminal justice careers that fall under the Corrections umbrella. Careers like prison warden, substance abuse counselor, and forensic psychologist are featured – as well as more obvious ones such as correctional case manager, youth correctional officer, and many more. There are links to more than a dozen corrections-related articles, an in-depth interview on the state of California’s prisons, and a Q&A video clip with Sheriff Gary Raney. Visit the Corrections Degree and Career Center for more.

Criminal Justice Employment Outlook by State

CJDS’ view on employment outlook is confident overall^1,2 and consistent with the viewpoint of former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, who noted in our recent interview with her that now is the best time to pursue a career in criminal justice and law enforcement. The economy is improving and the baby boomer generation is aging. A mass of retirements is pending from the hiring binge in the early 80s. As those events come together, those pursuing degrees in the criminal justice field will now have ample opportunities upon graduation.

STATE	STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2016)1	OVERALL EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK GRADE	STATE BUDGET MANAGEMENT RATING2	ANNUAL CJ OPENINGS3	CJDS VIEW OF STATE PROSPECTS FOR PUBLIC CJ JOBS*
US Total	4.70%	Average	Average	105,980	Average
Alabama	6.10%	Below Average	Good	1,130	Average
Alaska	6.70%	Poor	Excellent	100	Average
Arizona	5.60%	Below Average	Below Average	5,700	Poor
Arkansas	3.80%	Good	Average	530	Average
California	5.20%	Average	Poor	12,140	Below Average
Colorado	3.40%	Good	Average	1,770	Below Average
Connecticut	5.70%	Below Average	Poor	930	Poor
Delaware	4.10%	Good	Below Average	N/A	Average
Florida	4.70%	Average	Excellent	6,700	Excellent
Georgia	5.30%	Below Average	Good	3,650	Average
Hawaii	3.20%	Good	Poor	430	Average
Idaho	3.70%	Good	Good	470	Excellent
Illinois	6.40%	Poor	Poor	2,800	Poor
Indiana	5.00%	Average	Good	840	Below Average
Iowa	3.90%	Good	Average	500	Average
Kansas	3.70%	Good	Average	920	Average
Kentucky	5.10%	Average	Poor	630	Below Average
Louisiana	6.30%	Poor	Below Average	1,670	Below Average
Maine	3.50%	Good	Poor	550	Below Average
Maryland	4.50%	Average	Poor	910	Average
Massachusetts	4.20%	Average	Poor	1,410	Below Average
Michigan	4.70%	Average	Below Average	2,040	Poor
Minnesota	3.80%	Good	Average	1,280	Average
Mississippi	5.80%	Below Average	Average	780	Average
Missouri	4.30%	Average	Good	1,910	Below Average
Montana	4.20%	Average	Excellent	430	Good
Nebraska	3.00%	Excellent	Excellent	380	Good
Nevada	6.10%	Below Average	Good	610	Good
New Hampshire	2.70%	Excellent	Good	360	Good
New Jersey	4.90%	Average	Poor	3,150	Below Average
New Mexico	6.20%	Below Average	Below Average	1,650	Poor
New York	4.70%	Average	Poor	91,40	Average
North Carolina	4.70%	Average	Average	2,790	Average
North Dakota	3.20%	Good	Excellent	340	Good
Ohio	5.10%	Average	Good	1,960	Average
Oklahoma	4.70%	Average	Excellent	940	Good
Oregon	4.50%	Average	Below Average	550	Poor
Pennsylvania	5.50%	Below Average	Below Average	2,860	Below Average
Rhode Island	5.40%	Below Average	Below Average	340	Below Average
South Carolina	5.60%	Below Average	Good	1,400	Average
South Dakota	2.50%	Excellent	Excellent	220	Excellent
Tennessee	4.10%	Good	Excellent	1,610	Excellent
Texas	4.40%	Average	Good	17,400	Good
Utah	3.80%	Good	Excellent	350	Good
Vermont	3.10%	Excellent	Below Average	200	Average
Virginia	3.80%	Good	Good	3,060	Good
Washington	5.80%	Below Average	Average	1,760	Average
Washington DC	5.80%	Below Average	N/A	730	Average
West Virginia	6.20%	Below Average	Below Average	190	Poor
Wisconsin	4.20%	Average	Good	1,310	Average
Wyoming	5.60%	Below Average	Excellent	150	Average

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Table Footnotes

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics:�https://www.bls.gov/lau/
2. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition:�https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings
3. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections:�http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
4. TED: The Economics Daily: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2021/unemployment-rates-up-in-40-states-and-d-c-from-march-2020-to-march-2021.htm
*The Criminal Justice Degree Schools Criminal Justice Employment Outlook by State calculations weigh data from a multitude of sources and trends including state-level unemployment, state fiscal ratings, and annual public criminal justice openings compared to state population ratios to arrive at our view of prospects for public sector CJ jobs. Government budgets for operations and hiring and demographic-related factors drive hiring in criminal justice. There are many trends in play such as how the aging population will increase turnover in areas like law enforcement as baby boomers retire. Also, the stronger a state’s budget management, the more likely they can fund public programs. The overall outlook story varies dramatically state-by-state. We did not drill down into local areas and these can vary dramatically as well. The analysis is just one point of many anyone should consider in weighing an education or career decision.

Table Footnotes:

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/lau/

2. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition: https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

3. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm

*The Criminal Justice Degree Schools Criminal Justice Employment Outlook by State calculations weigh data from a multitude of sources and trends including state-level unemployment, state fiscal ratings, and annual public criminal justice openings compared to state population ratios to arrive at our view of prospects for public sector CJ jobs. Government budgets for operations and hiring and demographic-related factors drive hiring in criminal justice. There are many trends in play such as how the aging population will increase turnover in areas like law enforcement as baby boomers retire. Also, the stronger a state’s budget management, the more likely they can fund public programs. The overall outlook story varies dramatically state-by-state. We did not drill down into local areas and these can vary dramatically as well. The analysis is just one point of many anyone should consider in weighing an education or career decision.

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References for this article

1. US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Crime in the US 2013, Table 74: Full-Time Law Enforcement Employees:�https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-74 2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Police and Detectives:�https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm 3. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Forensic Science Technicians:�https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm 4. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants:�https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm 5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs:�https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm

Additional Resources

• Best Advice from 36 Leaders in Law Enforcement
• American Criminal Justice Association
• American Society of Criminology
• See all Criminal Justice Resources