If you’re wanting to protect and serve and are looking to enter a field with good job growth potential and solid salaries, then a degree in criminal justice may be for you. But the field of criminal justice is not limited to police and correctional officers alone.
No. There’s a wide array of careers you can pursue when you get a degree in criminal justice. And, depending on the degree you earn, there’s a wide array of salaries associated with these careers.
SchoolMatchPro.com has relationships with schools that offer various degrees in criminal justice, and if you find one of the below degrees (and potential jobs) are something you’d be interested in pursuing, SchoolMatchPro.com can connect you with the school or program that best fits your lifestyle and needs.
In fact, SchoolMatchPro.com can even connect you with online schools that can allow you to study from home, at your own pace. And, even better, we have tons of free resources to help assist you in making the best choice for you!
Now, what are the types of criminal justice degrees, and what are the potential jobs and salaries associated after graduation?
Associate degree in criminal justice: these two-year programs teach the fundamentals of the criminal justice system.
Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice: Traditionally a four-year program, you’ll get a more in-depth education, and you’ll have more career opportunities once you graduate.
Master’s degree in criminal justice: These advanced degrees will add about two years to your educational experience (after your Bachelor’s) but can lead to even higher paying jobs.
Doctoral degree in criminal justice: Doctoral degrees are the top education you can earn in criminal justice, and while they may take a long time to complete, your career opportunities are practically unlimited in the field.
What kind of jobs can you get with various criminal justice degrees?[1]
You can become a bailiff, or correctional officer and earn a median annual salary of $47,920
Police officers earn a median annual salary of $66,020.
Probation officers earn, on average, a median salary of $60,250.
With your doctoral degree in criminal justice, you can become a professor of criminal justice (among other things) and earn a median salary of $64,600.
With your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you can become a social worker and earn a median annual salary of around $50,390.
Private investigators, or PIs earn an average salary of $50,700, while criminal profilers earn about $54,000 a year.
If you earn your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you can become a crime scene investigator, and earn an average of $56,320 a year.
Or, you can work for the federal government as a Drug Enforcement Agent (if you have your bachelor’s) and earn an average annual salary of $77,210.
Maybe the DEA is not for you, but government work is. With as little as a bachelor’s degree, you can join the FBI and make an average of $63,021 a year.
A degree in criminal justice is often the jump-off point for many people before they pursue their law degrees or become full time teachers. You can also become a paralegal, a forensic psychologist, an intelligence analyst, a youth counselor, a victim advocate, or even an investigative reporter!
You see, earning a degree in criminal justice is a versatile, potentially worthwhile venture you may want to consider. So, if you’re interested in the fascinating world of criminal justice, consider learning more about it at SchoolMatchPro.com
We offer tons of free resources to not only help you decide if criminal justice is right for you, but we can also connect you directly with a school that offers the degree you’re looking for, on your terms!
[1] The Different Types of Criminal Justice Degrees – Forbes Advisor
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