Benefits of Criminal Justice Degree Jobs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of growth for criminal justice degree jobs is expected to be excellent through 2018. The best job prospects will be for those who hold at least an associate’s degree in criminal justice or related major.
Approximately 50 percent of all criminal justice degree jobs may be found in government agencies, with remaining opportunities in the private sector, as well as nonprofit organizations.
Entry-level careers include:
Police Officer
Deputy Sherriff
Corrections Officer
Probation/Parole Officer
Security Officer
Social Worker
Paralegal
Evaluating the benefits of a career in the criminal justice field is important as it helps you to obtain an understanding of all the factors that can affect your choice of career. Each of the below mentioned benefits have remained consistent through this past recession which accounts for the increasing numbers of people who are choosing to pursue criminal justice degree jobs.
Competitive Pay
Most entry-level criminal justice degree jobs offer an attractive salary. For police officers the median salary range is $26,000 if employed in a smaller town to over $40,000 for new recruits in larger cities. This is a higher starting wage than is the case with many other occupations. Jobs that involve advanced technology, such as cyber-security or identify theft, will offer especially attractive salaries, nearing $50,000 for those graduating with a bachelor’s degree.
Medical Insurance and Other Benefits
Most government-based agencies, private employers, and nonprofits provide medical coverage, dental insurance, along with pension plans. In many cases these benefits are fully paid for by your employer which puts extra money in your pocket, perhaps as much as $200 per month or more.
Your employer may also offer tuition reimbursement for work-related study so you can have a major part of your education subsidized. With the costs of education continually rising, this is a major benefit.
Expanded Opportunities
The advancement of science and technology has given rise to new criminal justice jobs in such areas as DNA analysis, cyber-security, satellite reconnaissance, and voice recognition. For those with an interest in science and technology, the criminal justice field offers very promising long-term opportunities.
Range of Criminal Justice Degree Jobs
The field of criminal justice offers a wide range of career opportunities, from police officer and corrections officer to paralegal and youth advocate. It is also a field that offers wonderful promotional opportunities; e.g. police officers may become senior officers or detectives. Paralegals may advance into the role or Paralegal Administrator and supervise the work of junior paralegals.
Those who return to school for advanced degrees will realize even greater advancement potential. For example, a social worker may become a clinical social worker and provide therapeutic services to victims, their families, as well as offenders.
Flexibility of Location
Those who have gained some experience in the field are able to transfer to police or sheriff departments in other states. This is especially the case for officers who are transferring from large cities to smaller towns.
Rewarding Work
A career in criminal justice offers the chance to help people and protect society. You will be working with a diverse range of personalities who need your leadership and calm demeanor to get through often stressful situations. Depending on your role you may also assist offenders to rehabilitate and become contributing members of society.
Opportunity for Entrepreneurs
Those who gain several years experience in the field may decide to open their own business as a private investigator, or consultant offering corporate or cyber security services. It is best to wait several years before stepping out on your own so you have time to build a strong contact list that can send business your way during the early months of operation.
When you weigh the benefits of criminal justice degree jobs you will see that field offers not only interesting and challenging career opportunities but also provides ample security for you and your family. During these tough economic times, this is a combination that is hard to beat!
