Key takeaways
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agents are among the highest-paid professionals in criminal justice.
- Criminal Profilers analyze psychological and behavioral patterns to assist in solving crimes, with an average salary of $58,246.
- Police Chiefs oversee entire police departments and ensure public safety. This senior role requires extensive law enforcement experience and relevant education.
- Federal Marshals perform diverse tasks, from fugitive apprehension to judicial security, and require extensive training.
- Forensic Accountants investigate fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering, with an average salary of $71,550. However, they require a high level of education and certifications.
- There are multiple factors affecting the average salary for a criminal justice degree, including type of employer, location, level of education, and so on.
- The most common academic path for highest paying criminal justice jobs is a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
If you wish to pursue a career in criminal justice, brace yourself for a unique blend of service, impact, and opportunity. While the passion for maintaining law and order drives many individuals toward this field, the potential for lucrative career options cannot be overlooked.
Moreover, this career is full of serious responsibilities that sometimes have high stakes as well. Therefore, some of the highest paying criminal justice jobs often require a combination of education, experience, and specialized training. Most notably, they also come with fulfilling responsibilities and long-term growth opportunities.
So, whether you feel drawn to federal roles such as FBI agents after watching a crime thriller or feel like forensic science and private security is your true calling, you have come to the right article. Here, we will explore the best paid criminal justice jobs that can truly enrich your career. So, whether you are at the beginning of your academic journey or planning your next career move, this guide will help you navigate your options.
Highest paying criminal justice jobs
There are many reports, such as by BLS, that tell us about the job growth rate and overall industry trends for criminal justice. The first and most common job role that comes to most of our minds is police officer. However, these common roles are mostly for entry to mid-senior level, while highest paying criminal justice jobs are much more senior-level and are available after years of work experience.
Therefore, in this section, we will list the highest paying criminal justice jobs that you can get after years of work experience and a college degree. These are great, promising jobs that prepare you for a rewarding college major ahead.
You can also explore this guide to the top crime and investigation jobs!
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agent
Of course, the job role on top of our list is going to be an FBI agent. This is one of the best paid criminal justice jobs, making it also the most sought-after and difficult to achieve. FBI Agents are responsible for investigating federal crimes, enforcing federal statutes, and ensuring national security. Their duties include conducting surveillance, gathering evidence, and participating in arrests. So keep in mind that this job comes with a serious responsibility. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is often a good choice for this career. However, candidates may be required to have prior military or law enforcement experience.
Criminal Profiler
Another one on our list of highest paid criminal justice jobs is a criminal profiler. This is not as popular as FBI agents, but it surely does pay well. Firstly, criminal profilers analyze evidence and psychological patterns to assist law enforcement in understanding and apprehending criminals. Moreover, they develop profiles to predict and identify potential offenders. This job role plays a crucial role in various departments such as robbery and homicide. Furthermore, some reports suggest that the average annual salary for criminal profilers is around $58,246. In addition to this, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology, or behavioral science is typically required; advanced degrees may enhance job prospects.
Police Chief
Police Chiefs oversee police departments, develop policies, manage personnel, and ensure public safety within their jurisdictions. This is a serious role that typically is more achievable in the later years of your career. Furthermore, police chiefs play a crucial role in community relations and law enforcement strategy. Years of experience and additional training is required for this role. Additionally, some reports suggest that the median annual salary for Police Chiefs is approximately $72,000. Lastly, you can opt for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field. However, keep in mind that this type of job requires extensive law enforcement experience.
Federal Marshal
A lot of people do not think of federal marshals job roles when criminal justice and related fields come to their mind. However, A Federal Marshal is a law enforcement officer working for the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. Federal Marshals are responsible for a wide range of duties related to federal law enforcement, fugitive apprehension, and judicial security. According to some reports by Zippia and Indeed, the average annual salary for Federal Marshals is about $45,371. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field is typically required; additional training at the U.S. Marshals Service Training Academy is mandatory.
Forensic Accountant
There are numerous degrees that offer you the path to building a career in forensic science. This is one of the most important aspects of many law enforcement and detective agencies. However, 10 to 15 years of experience and training can allow you to become eligible for this highest paying criminal justice job. Particularly, a forensic Accountants investigates financial crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Moreover, they analyze financial records to uncover illegal activities and may testify in court proceedings. The average annual salary for forensic accountants is approximately $71,550. In terms of academic path, you may opt for a bachelor’s degree in accounting or criminal justice with a focus on financial crime. Additional certification such as a CPA or CFE is often preferred.
Factors that influence average salary from criminal justice degree jobs
When you are trying to select the right college major for yourself, or are wondering whether a degree would pay off in the longer run, it is vital to understand that there is more to consider than just salary. The best paying criminal justice careers involve more than just finding high-paying jobs.
In fact, there are so many amazing highest paying criminal justice jobs that you will be eligible for after over 10 years of experience. So, whether you are starting early in your career or are planning for the future, it is vital to explore the factors that influence the average salary from criminal justice degree jobs:
Level of education
A bachelor’s degree is the foundational qualification for most criminal justice jobs. Careers such as probation officer, police officer, or forensic technician often require a four-year degree. In addition to that, you can also explore options such as advanced degrees, doctoral certifications, and short courses. These are best for enhancing your job prospects.
Job location
According to BLS, different states have a different rate of employment and even pay scales for the same jobs. Therefore, the location you are residing in or planning to move makes a huge lot of difference. Moreover, keep in mind, salaries in urban areas tend to be higher due to the increased cost of living. For example, police officers in New York City earn significantly more than those in smaller towns in the Midwest. Additionally, federal positions such as FBI agents get paid more as compared to local or regional positions.
Type of employers
Not every employer is going to offer top paying criminal justice jobs. So, you will come across work opportunities that have a fitting job description, and other excellent features, but a low pay scale. This happens due to the difference between government or state level employers, private employers, and nonprofits. So, federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Marshals Service, generally offer higher salaries and better benefits than state or local agencies.
Specializations within criminal justice degree jobs
Different roles and sub-branches within a mainstream career path also make a difference. All bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and related fields have different branches or areas of focus you can select from. So, when you are specialized in particular fields, the employment rates and salary ranges of those sub-fields are important to consider.
For example, due to increasing reliance on technology, criminal justice professionals specializing in cybersecurity earn some of the highest salaries in the field. Entry-level cybersecurity analysts earn around $75,000. Additionally, Forensic scientists or forensic psychologists specializing in crime analysis or criminal profiling can earn between $60,000–$100,000 depending on their role and employer.
Explore how long it takes to become a forensic psychologist
Additional training and certifications
Additional certifications, such as Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or training in forensic technology, can significantly boost earning potential. Similarly, certifications in leadership or law enforcement administration can help professionals move into management positions, such as police chief or correctional facility director, which offer salaries exceeding $100,000.
Get a degree for the highest paying criminal justice jobs
In conclusion, there are quite some promising job outlooks for criminal justice degree holders. So, some of the highest paying criminal justice jobs include roles like the FBI agents, criminal profiler, forensic accountant, and federal marshal. These jobs come with huge responsibilities and serious tasks that can make or break the legal system. Therefore, these have a higher pay scale and require years of work experience and a bunch of education and training.
However, there are also several other factors to consider when we talk about the top paying criminal justice jobs. These factors include the location of the job, level of education, type of employers, and additional training and education. So, to seal-lock your career growth, take care of these factors and make informed decisions.