Careers in Criminal Justice
Updated April 17, 2024
A criminal justice degree can lead to various roles in law enforcement and the U.S. carceral state. Police officers, crime prevention specialists, and security agents often come from criminal justice backgrounds. Criminal justice degrees can also prepare you for advocacy roles that help communities recover and heal.
This guide introduces criminal justice as an academic and professional field by profiling dozens of jobs and career tracks. Use our research to explore the many possibilities you can unlock by earning a degree in criminal justice or an adjacent field, like forensic science or law.
What Is Criminal Justice?
The term "criminal justice" refers to the laws, rules, and agencies that aim to hold criminals accountable for unlawful actions. The criminal justice system includes institutions and government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), courts, prisons, and police forces.
The system tries, detains, and imprisons people it believes to have broken 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.
If you are passionate about upholding the law or plan to attend law school one day, then studying criminal justice may be right for you.
Types of Criminal Justice Degree Jobs
With a criminal justice degree, you can pursue "sworn" and civilian roles. Professionals in sworn positions take legally binding oaths to defend the public trust. Most also carry firearms and have powers of arrest.
Major fields of employment for criminal justice graduates include:
- Law enforcement and homeland security
- Forensics
- Court and legal services
- Corrections and offender rehabilitation
- Victim services
- Private security and investigations
- Research and academia
The subsections below introduce many different career paths available within these categories.
Law Enforcement and Homeland Security
A criminal justice degree may qualify you for entry-level roles related to policing, investigative sciences, and public safety and security at state/local police departments and federal agencies, such as the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition to sworn law enforcement officers, police departments also hire civilian personnel in roles like crime analyst and 911 dispatcher.
The following table offers an at-a-glance profile of nine common and specialized roles:
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police officers and sheriff's patrol officers | $72,280 | +3% | Associate or bachelor's degree |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | $91,100 | +1% | Associate or bachelor's degree |
| Transit and railroad police | $72,250 | +3% | Associate or bachelor's degree |
| Fish and game wardens | $60,380 | -6% | Bachelor's degree |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $101,750 | N/A | Associate or bachelor's degree plus professional experience |
| Emergency management directors | $83,960 | +3% | Bachelor's degree plus experience |
| Fire inspectors and investigators | $74,160 | +5% | College degree or high school diploma plus certification |
| Transportation security screeners | $50,020 | N/A | Associate or bachelor's degree |
| Public safety telecommunicators | $48,890 | +3% | High school diploma or undergraduate degree plus certification |
Forensic Sciences
Many forensic science specialists work in criminal justice capacities as full-time employees and expert consultants. Investigations-related roles in health sciences, finance, technology, and similar fields often require extensive additional education. Examples of these careers include forensic anthropologists, forensic accountants, forensic nurses, and forensic psychologists.
The forensic science technician career path also includes crime scene investigators, blood spatter analysts, computer forensics investigators, forensic ballistics experts, and many other unique specializations.
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forensic Science Technicians | $64,940 | +13% | Bachelor's degree |
| Chemists | $84,680 | +6% | Bachelor's or master's degree |
| Anthropologists | $63,800 | +4% | Master's degree |
| Dentists | $166,300 | +4% | Doctoral degree |
| Pathologists | $239,200 and up | +5% | Doctoral degree |
| Psychologists | $117,750 | +6% | Master's or doctoral degree |
| Registered Nurses | $86,070 | +6% | Associate or bachelor's degree |
| Accountants | $79,880 | +4% | Bachelor's degree |
Courts and Legal Services
Many criminal justice jobs occur within the court and legal systems. Some career paths — such as paralegals, criminal lawyers, and judges — require law degrees, additional certifications, and/or extensive experience.
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bailiffs | $53,040 | -2% | College degree or high school diploma plus specialized schooling |
| Paralegals and legal assistants | $60,970 | +4% | Associate or bachelor's degree |
| Legal secretaries and administrative assistants | $50,680 | -10% | Associate degree |
| Lawyers | $145,760 | +8% | Professional degree in law |
| Judges and hearing officers | $111,090 | +2% | Professional degree in law professional experience |
| Court reporters and simultaneous captioners | $63,940 | +3% | Postsecondary certificate or associate degree |
| Court clerks, municipal clerks, and license clerks | $46,110 | +3% | College degree or high school diploma plus internship |
Corrections
Criminal justice degrees can lead directly to roles in corrections and offender rehabilitation. With experience, you can ascend to leadership roles like prison warden. This table profiles some of the most common corrections careers pursued by criminal justice graduates.
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correctional officers and jailers | $53,300 | -8% | College degree or high school diploma plus specialized schooling |
| First-line supervisors of correctional officers | $70,530 | N/A | College degree or high school diploma plus specialized schooling, professional experience |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | $61,800 | +3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Mental health, behavioral disorder, and substance use counselors | $53,710 | +18% | Master's degree typically required for licensed counselor roles |
Victim Services
Victim services professionals play critical roles in criminal justice. They aid investigations, advocate for victims' rights, and connect victims with vital support. All of these services can help sensitive and difficult recovery processes.
Examples of specific roles in this area include victim advocates, child abuse social workers, forensic child interviewers, and domestic violence shelter coordinators, among others.
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social workers | $63,770 | +7% | Bachelor's or master's degree |
| Social and community service managers | $77,030 | +9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | $53,710 | +18% | Master's degree typically required for licensed counselor roles |
Private Security and Investigations
Criminal justice jobs extend into the private sector. Broad categories like security guards, private detectives, and investigators include many unique and focused careers, such as fraud investigators, bounty hunters, and loss prevention specialists.
Explore these and other career paths using the table below, along with the linked resources:
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private investigators and detectives | $49,540 | +6% | High school diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree State licensure may be required |
| Security guards | $37,070 | -1% | High school diploma |
| Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators | $39,210 | -1% | High school diploma |
| Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | $75,050 | -3% | Postsecondary certificate, diploma, or college degree |
| Information security analysts | $120,360 | +32% | Bachelor's degree |
Research and Academia
Research and academia jobs related to criminal justice typically concentrate on studying the causes and consequences of crime and criminality. They also focus on crime prevention and related policy to make cities and communities safer places.
With an advanced criminal justice degree, jobs such as these may become available to you:
| Job | Median Salary (2023) | Projected Growth (2022-32) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary | $83,470 | +3% | Master's or doctoral degree |
| Sociologists (including criminologists) | $101,770 | +5% | Master's or doctoral degree |
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Criminal Justice Interview: Sue Rahr
While criminal justice and policing have been historically male-dominated fields, women in law enforcement are becoming more common, as are women in the criminal justice field as a whole.
In 2019, the FBI released data showing that nationwide, women represented 27% of all law enforcement employees and about 13% of law enforcement officers. 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.
Sue Rahr was the first woman sheriff of King County and served in this role for seven years, leading 1,000 employees. Rahr has since transitioned into key training and thought leadership roles for the department. Below is our entire interview with Sue Rahr, former King County Sheriff.
Criminal Justice Career Outlook
Many of the fastest-growing criminal justice career paths reflect broader societal and economic trends. For instance, the high projected growth rates for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors reflect the rising number of people seeking treatment.
Similarly, soaring demand for information security analysts follows from technology's ever-increasing role in business and everyday life. Cybercrime Magazine projects 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions in 2025, reflecting a huge global gap in the availability of qualified professionals.
Other roles face stagnant growth prospects or potential declines due to changing practices and increased adoption of specialized technologies. Consider these changes as you choose a criminal justice degree and career path to invest in.
Ready for the next step? Peruse our degree guides to learn about educational paths toward criminal justice careers:
Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Degree Jobs
What job pays the most in criminal justice?
Top-paying criminal justice degree jobs include forensic pathologists, forensic dentists, lawyers, judges, and information security analysts. These careers typically require advanced training in other fields. Pathologist and dentist roles require medical doctorates, while lawyers and judges need law degrees. Information security analysts typically possess computer science or specialized cybersecurity degrees, along with relevant professional certifications.
Is criminal justice a good career?
Many criminal justice graduates find their jobs rewarding and satisfying. Criminal justice careers address the social and economic problems caused by crime. They also help victims recover, prevent future crime, and protect public safety.
How do you know if criminal justice is right for you?
Begin by learning more about the field by researching educational programs and career paths. If you feel compassionate about the U.S. legal and criminal justice systems, a career in the field might appeal to you. You can also explore free online learning resources and massive open online courses in criminal justice to see if you enjoy what you encounter.
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