TOP CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOBS
- Police officer: No list of the top criminal justice careers would be complete without including what is arguably the most popular choice: working for state or local law enforcement as a police officer. This category includes sheriffs, deputies and patrol officers, all of whom play visible roles in community safety. Crime doesn’t take nights, weekends or holidays off, so police officers must be prepared to work odd hours and respond nimbly to new and changing circumstances. Median pay for police officers in 2018 was $63,380 annually.
- Probation/parole officer: Probation and parole officers supervise convicted criminals who are serving probation. People in these roles help ensure the terms of the parolee’s probation are being adhered to, working with the police and corrections’ communities when necessary. Probation officers work with parolees one on one and must be able to exhibit authority and empathy in their day-to-day work. The 2018 median annual wage for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $53,020.
- FBI agent: As federal government employees, FBI agents are tasked with investigating crimes and guaranteeing that federal laws are enforced. If your focus is on the highest-paying criminal justice careers, you may want to consider working as an FBI agent. Experienced agents can earn six figures. However, to qualify as a candidate for this role, you will need to obtain a four-year degree and meet other stringent physical and mental qualifications.
- Private investigator: Private investigators (PIs) and private detectives often work closely with law enforcement personnel. Instead of working for the public, PIs represent individuals and companies searching for answers they haven’t been able to uncover themselves. PIs may specialize in a certain area, such as conducting investigations for family law-related matters (divorce, child custody, etc.) or internal corporate investigations. Others are generalists, handling matters like those as well as locating missing persons, conducting background checks and more. In 2018, the median annual wage for private investigators and private detectives was $50,090.
- Criminologist: People who choose to work as criminologists or sociologists specialize in profiling crimes and criminals in an attempt to apprehend guilty parties and prevent future crimes. Criminologists earn competitive pay; however, you’ll need a master’s degree or PhD for most positions. The 2018 median pay for sociologists and criminologists was $82,050.
- Private security: If you want to work in a security role with a more defined scope than you would have working for your local law enforcement office, you may want to consider a career as a private security guard. Security guards work for corporations of all sizes, including businesses, shopping malls, hospitals, college campuses and more. A typical shift involves patrolling the premises, ensuring safety and addressing problems as they arise. In 2018, security guards earned a median annual salary of $32,050.
- Fraud investigator: Fraud investigators often work for major corporations and usually specialize their work in a specific area, such as digital forensics, financial crimes or insurance fraud. Fraud specialists must be attuned to details and patterns, with the ability to work and focus well independently. A bachelor’s degree is generally a requirement to work as a fraud investigator. The median wage for fraud investigators is $39,416. Experienced investigators can make more than twice that amount each year.
WHY PURSUE A CAREER IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE?
Criminal justice professionals — regardless of what career paths they take — play important roles in maintaining order and peace. While some people avoid pursuing jobs in criminal justice because of the potential danger and stress they can entail, those who take the plunge want to be part of building stronger communities.
Generations College’s Criminal Justice program is a two-year Associate of Science degree designed to train and empower tomorrow’s criminal justice professionals, in whatever careers they choose. With hands-on, skills-based training provided by experienced and knowledgeable instructors, our graduates enter the workforce ready to succeed.