OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD
Criminal justice degrees are incredibly versatile. Many criminal justice program graduates choose to pursue careers in law enforcement, serving society as members of their local law enforcement communities. However, people with criminal justice degrees are not limited to working for their state or local police forces.
There are many other rewarding jobs for individuals with criminal justice degrees, including working in the private sector as investigators, working in our nation’s prison or parole systems, or fighting for peoples’ rights in victim advocacy roles — to name a few.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE JOB OPTIONS
The following list is not intended as an all-encompassing collection of criminal justice-related careers, but it does include many potential careers for people with criminal justice degrees.
- Police Officer: Police officers play key roles in protecting their communities, enforcing local or state laws. In 2018, the mean salary for police officers was $65,400.
- Cybercrime Investigator: With incidences of cybercrime and computer fraud continuing to grow, there has never been a greater need for cybercrime investigators. Mean salary for computer crimes investigators in 2018 was $62,960.
- Forensic Investigator: Forensic analysts and investigators review and analyze data to help law enforcement professionals or other investigators solve crimes. Forensic science technicians’ mean salary in 2018 was $58,230.
- Customs and Border Patrol Officer: CBP officers may work at traffic checkpoints, “line watch” roles near international borders, marine patrol and even as horse patrol officers. CBP officers help protect our country by preventing terrorists and terroristic weapons from entering the U.S. Depending on the role and qualifications, some CBP officers enjoy total compensation of more than $100,000 annually.
- Corrections Officer: Working to maintain safety inside our nation’s prisons and correctional institutions, you’ll put your criminal justice coursework to the test. The median annual salary for corrections officers and bailiffs in 2018 was $44,400.
- Parole or Probation Officer: When someone is released from prison on parole, or when the court orders probation for a convicted criminal, criminal justice professionals work to ensure the terms of the parole or probation are being met. In 2018, the median pay for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $53,020 per year.
- Transportation Security Officer: TSA officers work at airports and marine ports to screen cargo or baggage, assuring compliance with Transportation Security Administration rules. The median pay in 2018 for transportation security screeners was $41,490.
- Private Detective: Rather than working in public roles, private detectives take on work for hire, helping people get information and answers for legal, financial and other personal matters. The median wage for private detectives in 2018 was $50,090.
- Victims’ Advocate: People who want to help protect victims’ rights may want to pursue jobs as victims’ advocates or restorative justice advocates. In these types of roles, you may work for a nonprofit company, government agency or social service company. The median salary in 2018 for people in social and community service management roles was $65,320.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE PROGRAM CAN HELP YOU LAND A REWARDING JOB
As you can see from the list above, there are many wonderful career options for criminal justice majors. Choosing the right college degree program is the first step toward finding career satisfaction in the criminal justice field.
At Generations College, we are passionate about helping our students succeed in the classroom — and beyond. To learn more about Generations College’s Criminal Justice degree program, contact ustoday!