Key takeaways
- Criminal justice major jobs offer enriching career opportunities with high earning potential and the ability to make an impact.
- To pursue criminology or criminal justice jobs, you need a formal education in the field such as a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science in criminal justice, criminology, or a related field.
- Career opportunities available to criminal justice majors are diverse.
- Graduates can pursue opportunities such as police officers, FBI Agents, Forensic Psychologists, and so on.
- FBI Agents earn the highest average annual salary at $123,000 per annum among most other criminal justice major jobs.
- The demand for criminal justice professionals is high as crime is evolving and growing at a rapid pace highlighting the need for experienced professionals to help prevent it.
Not many educational qualifications lead to careers as rewarding as you will find in criminal justice major jobs. There is no greater feeling than knowing you played a role in putting away criminals for good, ensuring they get the punishment they deserve, and making the world a safer place. However, you need a formal education to pursue criminal justice careers, preferably a college education which can either be a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Bachelor of Science in Criminology or Criminal Justice.
However, a college education is a significant time and financial commitment. So, before you decide to pursue a career in the field, explore job opportunities to determine earning potential. In this guide, we answer all your job search queries for criminal justice degree jobs. Whether you are searching for ‘BA in criminal justice jobs’ or ‘a bachelor of science criminal justice administration jobs’ here you will find a list of highly rated jobs you can apply for.
List of highly rated criminal justice major jobs
Criminal justice is a dynamic field that is ever-evolving. Thus, the jobs of those fighting against crime and for criminal justice never end. As criminal justice professionals find solutions to crimes, criminals find workarounds against those solutions and so the loop goes on ensuring there is never a dull day for those pursuing careers involving criminal justice. Here are a few of the top-rated jobs you can explore with a degree in criminal justice or a related field such as criminology.
Police Officer
Among the many criminal justice career paths, the one leading to a career in the police force is one of the most evident ones. If you want to fight crime and prevent it, becoming a police officer is the way to go. As a police officer, you will be responsible for the protection of the people, their lives, and their property. While that sounds heroic, it is important to note that police officers have one of the riskiest jobs and have one of the highest rates of job-related injuries.
The job responsibilities of police officers include investigating crimes, enforcing the law, and maintaining public order. Moreover, in emergency situations police officers are among the first responders tasked with ensuring public safety. The job can be very demanding but it is among the highly rated criminal justice degree jobs for a number of reasons.
Unlike other occupations, the demand for police officers is likely to remain stable, especially across major cities. As per BLS the job growth rate for police officers and detectives is 4%, which is consistent with the national average for all occupations.
Moreover, the chances of police officers getting laid off are slim. The worst that can happen to an ill-performing officer is suspension. However, should you desire to switch to another occupation, you are free to do so.
There are plenty of opportunities for performance-based career advancements in the police force. You may start out as a police officer, but move up the ladder to become a detective and maybe even the police chief as you grow and demonstrate your expertise.
Average salary
The average annual salary of a police officer in the US is $74,910 as per the United Bureau of Labor Statistics.
FBI Agent
Special Agents in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are responsible for handling federal law violations. Criminals that threaten national security are dealt with by the FBI, which only handles high-profile cases such as those involving terrorism, serial killers, bombers, cyber crime, threats to natural security, and so on.
Major responsibilities of an FBI agent include investigating, researching, surveillance, transcription, report-writing, and so on. While it may sound boring, careers in the FBI are pretty exciting and to be part of the organization is a matter of great prestige. Here, you will get the opportunity to make a difference at the national level and work for the protection of the safety and integrity of the United States, making it one of the best criminal justice degree employment opportunities.
Average annual salary
The average annual salary of an FBI Agent is $123,000, making it one of the most financially rewarding jobs to get with a criminal justice degree.
Criminologist
The primary role and responsibility of criminologists is to find the reasons why people commit crimes and find ways to reduce and prevent criminal activities. If the show Mindhunter on Netflix piqued your interest, this is the field for you. Even though you may not get opportunities as exciting as those portrayed on the show, your contributions to the field will be just as massive. You can also pursue academic roles in the field. The job opportunities for criminology graduates are vast and varied. In fact, even in the capacity of a criminologist, they can seek employment in various organizations.
Average annual salary
The average annual salary of a criminologist is $58,163 per year as per Glassdoor. However, the exact salary offered to you will depend on your skills, employment level, industry, and organization.
Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychology is an interesting field that serves as the bridge between the criminal justice system and psychology. As a forensic psychologist or a criminal psychologist, your primary roles and responsibilities will be to assess competency to stand trial, criminal profiling, witness evaluations, jury selection, and more. Additionally, forensic psychologists are also responsible for creating effective rehabilitation and treatment plans for offenders.
If you want to become a forensic psychologist, you will need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a focus in forensic psychology, or a bachelor’s degree in criminology. Much like criminologists, forensic psychologists also study crime and criminals to assess their psychology and understand their motivation for crime.
Average annual salary
Forensic Psychologists earn an average annual salary of $80,474 as per Payscale. However, the exact figures vary by city, years of experience, and organization.
Frequently Asked Questions about criminal justice bachelor degree jobs
Criminal justice is considered an in-demand career choice as it leads to several career opportunities in law enforcement and its related fields. Whether you want to go into policy-making, the police force, or seek employment in National Security Agencies, a bachelor’s degree in criminology, or criminal justice is the right qualification for you.
What are the jobs for criminal justice degrees?
Some of the most frequently asked questions about criminology and criminal justice are related to criminal justice positions or job opportunities such as the following:
- What can you do with a criminal justice degree?
- What can you do with a criminal justice major?
- What jobs can you get with a criminal justice degree?
- What to do with a criminal justice degree?
Some available criminal justice or criminology degree jobs include Police officer, FBI Agent, Corrections Officer, Forensic Scientist, Paralegal, Forensic Psychologist, and so on. Though the exact roles and responsibilities of each role vary, they generally fall under the umbrella of analyzing crime, finding evidence, understanding the motivation behind crime, drafting policies and legal frameworks for the punishment of criminal activity, and finding ways to prevent it.
Is criminal justice a good major?
Yes, criminal justice is an excellent major. Not only does it help you build a diverse set of skills, making you eligible for a wide range of job opportunities, criminal justice degree careers are in high demand. As criminal activities evolve, there is always a need for qualified criminologists and criminal justice professionals.
How to find jobs in criminal justice?
Finding jobs in the criminal justice field can prove to be challenging if you don’t know where to look. The best thing to do would be to consult your campus counselor and seek expert guidance during your college education. Moreover, you will be provided with several networking and engagement opportunities during the course of your program. Make sure you make the most of each opportunity.
After graduation, you can use job search platforms such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Zip Recruiter, and so on to find jobs for criminology majors. Additionally, you can explore official federal and local US police force websites to find job opportunities of employment for criminal justice degrees. Finding criminology jobs will prove to be slightly challenging and you do need to scour official websites and job hunt platforms to find opportunities in the criminal justice field.
Become eligible for criminologist jobs with a formal education!
Become eligible for criminologist jobs with a formal education!
We can dream and plan our careers all we want, but without a formal education, none of those dreams can come true. If you want to pursue criminal justice BA degree jobs, you have to get a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field. Here are some resources you can use to explore criminology and criminal justice programs, learn about the field in detail, and determine if it is the right choice for you or not.
- How can I become a criminologist?
- Why study criminology?
- Renowned colleges with a criminology degree in the US
- 4 signs you should study criminology in college
- Reputable US colleges for an online criminology degree
Only with the right qualifications, can you pursue a lucrative criminal justice major career. Make sure you make an informed decision and we wish you the best of luck in your job hunt!