Criminal Justice Salary Range – What You Can Expect To Earn
Several factors can influence the criminal justice salary you will earn. In general, salaries for jobs in large, urban areas are higher than those in small towns. Certain States, such as the District of Columbia, Illinois and California also pay higher salaries than do other parts of the country. Those employed by government agencies (local, state and federal levels) also earn higher salaries than those employed in private firms or nonprofit organizations.
Over the past several years, employers have become more selective with regard to their hiring process so that most now require at least an associate’s degree in criminal justice, forensic science, or paralegal studies to obtain entry-level employment in the field.
Those candidates with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, $15,000 more per year than those not having this degree. A master’s degree will also be necessary for advancement to many supervisory and managerial positions.
2010 Criminal Justice Salary Data
Median criminal justice salary by job title
| Police Officer or Sheriff | $48,532 |
| Paralegal | $40,909 |
| Security Guard | $23,820 |
| Correction Officer | $28,790 |
| Probation Officer | $37,430 |
| Detective/Criminal Investigator | $57,520 |
Source Payscale.com May 2011
Some of the highest paying jobs in the criminal justice field are within federal agencies. Opportunities exist with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), U.S. Secret Service (USS), The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS was founded after the attack of September 11, 2001 and offers diverse career opportunities throughout its many divisions. It is important to note that these jobs typically require a minimum of a bachelor degree, with many agents in each agency holding advanced degrees, most commonly a Jurist Doctor (JD) or Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
Median Entry Level Criminal Justice Salary—Federal Level
| FBI Agents | $53,743 |
| DEA Agents | $49,746 |
| U.S. Marshal | $36,658 |
| U.S. Secret Service Agent | $50,987 |
| U.S. Border Patrol Officer | $36,568 |
Sources; FBI.gov, USDOJ.gov, Secret Service.gov, DHS.gov
The following is a list of alternative careers within the criminal justice field along with the median salaries.
| Social Worker | $56,600 |
| Court Reporter | $47,810 |
| Fish and Game Warden | $48,800 |
| Forensic Psychologist (needs at least a master’s) | $86,540 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $51,480 |
| Hearing Officer | $83,920 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor (masters needed) | $31,210 |
| Teacher (at community colleges) | $57,500 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistic 2010
As can be noted, there is a wide variation of salaries within the field of criminal justice, depending on level of education and experience. Other considerations with regard to a criminal justice salary include demand in your geographic area and size of employer, particularly with regard to agencies at the local and state levels.
Many careers within the field of criminal justice offer pay increases and bonuses with additional education. While the highest paying jobs are typically awarded to those with a bachelor’s degree, there are many opportunities for those with an associate’s degree such as police officer, correction officer, probation officer, parole officer, security director, youth advocate, and paralegal.
Aside from salary you will also want to consider the scope of the full benefits package in terms of health coverage (medical, dental and vision care), pension plans, and vacation allowance.
For those who are thinking to return to school, be sure to inquire about tuition reimbursement programs in which employers cover a good portion (if not all!) of your tuition costs for work-related study. Keep in mind that many employers will require that you remain with the department/agency for a specified period upon course completion.
However, if the agency is one in which you plan to build a long-term career, you can have your education nearly fully paid for. This is certainly money in your pocket in addition to any criminal justice salary you may earn!
