Jobs You Can Get With a Criminal Justice Degree

Jobs You Can Get With a Criminal Justice Degree. A criminal justice degree offers numerous lucrative career opportunities in both public and private sectors and enables flexibility in career choices, allowing students to pursue graduate school or work in both sectors.

Are you enjoying helping people and do you desire to make a difference, either in your local communities or country? A degree in Criminal Justice (Criminology) is the right stepping stone for you. A criminal justice degree may be ideal for those who enjoy helping others and want to make a difference in their communities, offering numerous rewarding job opportunities in crime prevention, victim advocacy, corrections, and investigative work.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 5% growth in criminal justice jobs from 2019 to 2029, indicating ample growth opportunities in this field. So, as you can see, there are great and numerous opportunities for Criminal Justice Degree holders.

In fact, graduates with criminal justice degrees have various career opportunities, depending on their specialization and degree type. Forensic science technicians earn a median salary of $59,150 per year, with a projected 14% job growth rate from 2018-2028.

So, if you’re wondering what you can do with your criminal justice degree, look no further. We’ve carefully highlighted in this article a list of jobs you can get with a Criminal Justice Degree, success tips, potential salaries, common duties, projected job growth, and frequently asked questions.

What is criminal justice?

Criminal justice is a system where criminals are identified, detained, judged, and punished, involving law enforcement, the court system, and corrections facilities. It ensures the upholding of laws and fair punishment for criminals, ensuring justice for all involved.

What Jobs Can You Get With a Criminal Justice Degree?

Criminal justice involves preventing and solving crimes through apprehending suspects and seeking justice through court proceedings. Degree holders can find jobs in law enforcement, corrections, and the court system, fulfilling their interests in public safety and the legal system.

Can You Earn a Degree in Criminal Justice Online?

The answer is yes. Earning a criminal justice degree online is possible through many schools, offering associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Online degrees are ideal for students who prefer online learning or those with busy work or life schedules who cannot attend in-person classes.

Check These Out:

Top 10 Best Law Schools in Nigeria

How to Get Film Production Lawyer Jobs in USA

Where Can You Earn a Criminal Justice Degree?

Most colleges or universities offer criminal justice degrees either online or in person. There are associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral levels available. Associate’s programs are typically offered at community colleges, while bachelor’s programs are available at public and private four-year colleges. Graduate degrees in criminal justice are also available.

List of Jobs You Can Get With a Criminal Justice Degree

Graduates of criminal justice bachelor’s degree programs often find employment in law enforcement, corrections, or graduate schools, while others pursue law or graduate studies. Some popular career paths include law enforcement, corrections, and graduate or law school.

If you’re a graduate in Criminal Justice, listed below is a list of jobs you can get with a criminal justice degree.

1. Police Officer

The job requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with 7% job growth expected, and is available in local, state, and federal governments with an average salary of $55,010.

Moreover, police enforce laws at local, state, or federal levels, protecting citizens’ lives through patrolling, responding to crime calls, reporting incidents, issuing citations, and making arrests.

2. Correctional Officer

The job requires a bachelor’s degree, expects 4% job growth, and can be found in jails, prisons, or holding cells, with an average salary of $40,530.

Correctional officers maintain order in jails, prisons, and cells by checking inmates and visitors for weapons and drugs, monitoring activities, and inspecting facilities to ensure sanitary, security, and safety measures, despite the physical demands and increased risk of injury.

3. Private Investigator

The job requires Associates, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degrees, with an expected 11% job growth and an average salary of $50,700.

Private investigators (PIs) are crucial in investigating legal, financial, and criminal cases, locating missing persons, and working for private citizens, attorneys, and businesses. Their responsibilities include researching, interviewing, and monitoring surveillance.

4. Criminal Profiler

The job requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with an expected 4% job growth, employment opportunities in local, state, and federal governments, and an average salary of $54,000.

Criminal profilers are FBI agents who provide detailed descriptions of suspects through intensive analysis, helping investigators determine motives by visualizing the crime and its events from start to finish.

5. Crime Prevention Specialist

The job requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with an expected 4% increase in job opportunities in local communities and an average salary of $52,000.

Crime Prevention Specialists collaborate with communities to devise crime prevention strategies, recommending better crime preparedness and reliable security measures like neighborhood watch, ensuring a safer environment for all.

6. Crime Scene Investigator

The job requires a bachelor’s degree, expects a 19% increase in job opportunities, and can be found in offices, labs, and crime scenes.

The Crime Scene Investigator analyzes crime scenes, collects evidence like DNA and fingerprints, and assists the Criminal Profiler in determining the crime’s cause and method.

7. Drug Enforcement Administration Agent

The job requires a bachelor’s degree, with 7% job growth expected, and can be found in state, local, and national law enforcement agencies.

DEAs enforce controlled substance laws and prevent illegal drug distribution, primarily within the US. They also conduct international investigations and collaborate with Border Patrol and Customs Enforcement agents if the US is affected.

8. Homicide Detective

The job requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with an expected 4% increase in job opportunities across local, state, and federal sectors.

A Homicide Detective is responsible for identifying murder suspects by examining evidence and clues left at crime scenes, such as DNA and fingerprints.

9. Jail Screener

The job requires an associate’s degree, expects a 6% increase in job opportunities, and is available in local, state, and federal jails and prisons with an estimated monthly salary of $41,000.

Jail screeners analyze inmates’ behavior to adjust sentences and determine their handling of societal release.

10. Probation Officer

The job requires a bachelor’s degree, with an expected 18% job growth, and can be found in state or federal government positions with an average salary of $54,050.

Probation officers supervise convicted criminals sentenced to probation, maintaining communication with the offender and their family members to ensure they meet probation terms.

11. Narcotics Officer

Narcotics Officers work to prevent illegal drug sales, distribution, and use, investigating trafficking and possession. They require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, expect 4% job growth, and work in small communities, with an average salary of $77,210.

12. Parole Officer

Parole Officers, with a Bachelor’s Degree, supervise criminals released from prison, ensuring they stay out of trouble and avoid reoffending. They assist them in finding housing, employment, and rehabilitation, with an expected 4% job growth in county or state parole offices.

13. State Trooper

State Troopers, with an average salary of $58,320, enforce driving and safety laws on local and state roads. They monitor roads, issue traffic citations, and assist in motorcycle and vehicular accidents. Expected job growth is 5%.

14. Youth Correctional Counselor

Youth Correctional Counselors, with a Bachelor’s Degree, work with juvenile law offenders in correctional facilities to help them transition into productive citizens. They provide individual and group counseling to deter future crime and employment in state or national government positions. The estimated monthly salary for Youth Correctional Counselor is $54,080

15. National Security Agency Police Officer

The job requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with expected job growth based on the federal budget, and is available in national security agencies with an average monthly salary of $53,300.

An NSA Police Officer is responsible for protecting NSA property, assisting in counter-terrorist operations, and providing weapons training to employees.

16. Deputy Sheriff

The job requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, with 4% expected job growth, employment in local, state, and federal governments, and an average salary of $60,270.

A Deputy Sheriff enforces law and order by making arrests, interviewing witnesses, questioning suspects, collecting evidence, and testifying in court.

17. Customs Inspector

The job requires a bachelor’s degree, with 4% expected job growth and an average salary of $67,000 in United States Border Lines locations.

A Customs Inspector collaborates with Homeland Security to prevent threats to the US from cross-border individuals or items, closely monitoring behavior to prevent weapons or drug smuggling, often with K9 units as partners.

18. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agent

The job requires a bachelor’s degree, with 7% expected job growth and a typical salary of $63,021 in federal government employment locations.

An FBI agent safeguards the United States from espionage, terrorism, and organized crime, encompassing field work and research, despite the risky nature of their duties and unusual working hours.

Is Criminal Justice a Good Major?

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice offers numerous career opportunities, including law enforcement, corrections, rehabilitative services, law school, attorney careers, social workers, forensic scientists, and professional educators, as well as a foundation for law school and a career in law.

Criminal justice careers require high physical fitness, emotional stress, empathy, and fast reflexes for success. Law enforcement officers must handle life-or-death decisions and provide rehabilitative services, requiring emotional resilience and empathy. The demanding field requires quick reflexes to navigate the challenges.

Other Jobs You Can Get With a Criminal Justice Career

Criminal justice majors with secondary interests in healthcare, conservation, youth services, forensic science, and anthropology have numerous career opportunities.

The career guides provided below outline typical job duties for a person with a criminal justice degree.

Air Marshal
Arson and Fire Investigator
Bailiff
Blood Spatter Analyst
Border Patrol Agent
CIA Analyst
CIA Officer
Computer Forensics Investigator
Corrections Treatment Specialist
Court Clerk
Customs and Border Protection Officer
Deputy Sheriff
Fire and Police Dispatch
Fish and Game Warden
Forensic Anthropologist
Forensic Ballistics Expert
Forensic Nurse
Fraud Investigator
ICE Agent
Information Security Officer
Juvenile Probation Officer
Narcotics Officer
Parking Enforcement Officer
Security Guard
Sheriff
TSA Screener
U.S. Marshal
U.S. Park Police
U.S. Postal Inspector
Youth Correctional Counselor

FAQs

Q. What job can I get with a criminal justice degree in the UK?

Crime scene investigator.
Forensic psychologist.
Forensic scientist.
Intelligence analyst.
Police officer.
Prison officer.
Probation officer.
Border Force officer.

Q. What is the highest job in criminology?

Judgeships and hearing officer roles are among the highest honors attorneys can earn, with judges being the highest-earning position in the criminal justice system.

Q. Where can criminologist work in Nigeria?

Security Administration & Operations Officer at Polaris Bank Limited
Safety and Loss Control Supervisor Benin
Background Check Officer at Estrada International Staffing Solutions
Safety and Loss Control Supervisor, Ahoada
Safety and Loss Control Supervisor, Gandu (Kano)

Q. What is the lowest salary for criminology?

Criminologists in the US earn a median salary of $53,022, with the middle 57% earning between $53,022 and $133,405, and the top 86% earning $294,666.

Q. Is cybersecurity criminal justice?

Cybersecurity aims to prevent crimes, while cyber forensics professionals lead criminal justice responses by identifying and collecting digital evidence, including computer files, social media data, emails, and phone records.

Q. Which university is best to study criminology in Nigeria?

Here are the top 5 universities in Nigeria where you can study criminology.

University of Lagos.
University of Ibadan.
Obafemi Awolowo University.
Ahmadu Bello University.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Related Articles

Author

Smith

Meet Mr. Smith, a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience as an author and researcher at Recruitment Portfolio. With a passion for words and a keen eye for detail, Mr. Smith has become a cornerstone of our team, bringing a unique blend of creativity and analytical prowess to his work.

View all posts