A criminal justice degree is best suited for those who are interested in establishing and maintaining order and justice. Those with the title can become police officers, FBI agents, corrections officers, game and fish rangers, and more. While some of the jobs on this list only require a high school education, a criminal justice degree can make it easier for people to move up in their field and earn a higher salary.
Here is a list of 12 possible jobs for criminal justice careers:
Most common jobs for criminal justice judges
Police officer
Police officers serve to protect communities by working to prevent and mitigate crime. Technically, a high school diploma is the only educational requirement to become a police officer, but those who choose to attend college and major in criminal justice may have a greater chance of receiving a higher salary and being promoted. Although the job does not require much traditional education, police officers have to go through extensive training, which is most often offered at police academies.
- Median annual salary: $ 61,160
- Common Entry Level Title: High School Diploma
- Probability of robots taking your job: 10%
Corrections Officer
Correctional officers are responsible for supervising, supervising, and assisting those who have been charged or convicted of a crime. They can work in detention centers or prisons at the local state and federal levels. Aspiring corrections officers do not need a college degree, as most of the necessary training is taught to them on the job. However, a criminal justice degree could make it easier for correctional officers to advance and earn a higher salary.
Typically speaking and mitigation skills are key to this profession. In addition to their role as supervisors, corrections officers may have to provide counseling or social work with detainees.
- Median annual salary: $ 43,510
- Common Entry Level Title: High School Diploma
- Likelihood of robots taking your job: 60%
Probation officer
Probation officers are tasked with making sure that people who have been released from prison can rejoin society without offending again. They sign up for parole, conduct interviews, and find help if needed.
If a parolee escapes or violates the terms of her parole, probation officers are often responsible for tracking them down. Generally, getting a job as a probation officer requires a degree in criminal justice, social work, or counseling.
- Median annual salary: $ 51,410
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Probability of robots taking your job: 25%
Specialized, unique jobs for criminal justice Graduates
Cia agent
CIA agents have a responsibility to help the federal government investigate international crimes. Compared to other criminal justice jobs, there are many advantages to being a CIA agent, including higher salary and prestige, but CIA agents cannot always choose where to live.
They have to report to specific bases, which can be abroad. To become a CIA agent, you need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, forensic medicine, or criminology, along with at least 3 years of criminal investigation experience.
- Median Annual Salary: $ 74,872- $ 136,771
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Probability that robots will accept your job: N / A
FBI agent
FBI agents are tasked with solving major domestic crimes, including terrorism, organized crime, grand theft, and crimes against civil rights, among others. Because they are near the top of the US criminal justice system, a bachelor’s degree, along with long hours of academic and tactical training, is needed before aspiring FBI agents can get a job.
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The FBI needs a diverse set of people, so in addition to hiring people with criminal justice backgrounds, the FBI hires people with backgrounds in law, finance, and education, among others.
- Median annual salary: $ 131,612
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Probability that robots will accept your job: N / A
Detective
Detectives typically work for state and local law enforcement and investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing evidence. They may be tasked with interviewing suspects, examining archived records, and making arrests. Aspiring detectives generally need to know the law, especially when it comes to civil rights. While they are not always required, most detectives have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, or something related to the law. Detectives almost always start out as police officers.
- Median annual salary: $ 79,970
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Likelihood of robots taking your job: 34%
Non-traditional jobs for criminal justice seniors
Forensic scientist
Forensic scientists assist in criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing physical evidence, such as blood splatters, fingerprints, DNA, tissue, or worn shell covers. This line of work may include the collection of evidence on-site or work in a laboratory; Some forensic scientists are involved in every part of the collection and analysis of evidence, others may work primarily or entirely in a crime lab.
Forensic scientists will often be called to trial to testify as expert witnesses in laboratory tests or techniques. A bachelor’s degree with courses in forensic science and related areas of study such as toxicology, pathology, or DNA may be sufficient to find entry-level employment in the field.
- Median annual salary: $ 57.850
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Probability of robots taking your job: 1%
Professor of Criminal Justice
After years working for a police force, a prison, or a government agency, some criminal justice careers continue to teach in higher education. Patience, communication, organization, and enthusiasm are some of the most important characteristics of a good college professor. To get a job in teaching at the postsecondary level, a master’s degree (and sometimes a doctorate) is required. In addition to teaching, some college professors also conduct research and write academic articles.
- Median annual salary: $ 81,580
- Common Entry Degree: Master’s
- Likelihood of robots taking your job: 34%
Computer Forensic Analyst
Computer forensic analysts work in conjunction with law enforcement to investigate cybercrime and analyze computers that may have been involved in a crime. Computer forensic analysts are often involved in data or document recovery and investigate the web history of a computer for evidence that can aid in an investigation. In addition to criminal justice education, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a common requirement for the position. Some agencies may require certification from the International Society of Computer Forensic Examiners (ISFCE) or the International Association of Computer Research Specialists (IACIS).
- Median annual salary: $ 57.850
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Probability of robots taking your job: 1%
Other Potential Jobs for Criminal Justice Graduates are
State Police
It is well known that state troopers patrol the roads to stop cars that are speeding, have a light on, or are missing a license plate, but that is not their only responsibility. State troopers also have to be vigilant and in some cases track down wanted criminals or terrorists fleeing a crime or their parole. Like police officers, a high school diploma is the only degree required to become a state trooper, but those with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field can earn a higher salary.
- Median annual salary: $ 61,160
- Common Entry Level Title: High School Diploma
- Probability that robots will accept your job: N / A
Immigration officer
Immigration officers are tasked with safeguarding national borders and tracking and deporting people who are in the United States illegally. After completing their bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, or a related field, aspiring immigration agents are required to attend training at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) training center in Dallas, Texas.
- Median annual salary: $ 56,910
- Common Entry Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- Probability that robots will accept your job: N / A
Fish and Game Ranger
Fish and game rangers work in protected outdoor areas, such as state and national parks and forest reserves, to protect wildlife and enforce fishing, hunting, and boating laws, among others. In addition to criminal justice education, aspiring fishermen and rangers should have experience and knowledge of wildlife or biology. To get a job as a fisherman and ranger, internships or apprenticeships are almost always necessary.
- Median annual salary: $ 56,410
- Common Entry Degree: Associate’s Degree
- Probability of robots taking your job: 8%
