Thinking about going into the field of criminal justice? With a criminal justice degree, there are a number of exciting job opportunities available to you. When you’re choosing your area of interest in this important field, you’ll probably be curious about not just the job description, but also what a criminal justice salary looks like in different areas of expertise. Let’s take a look at some of the positions available to you and what an annual salary might look like.
Average Criminal Justice Salary
Jobs requiring a criminal justice degree vary greatly in their salary, with an average of $51,626 ($25/hour), with top earners receiving an average of $97,477 ($47/hour). This wide range of salaries is a direct result of the vast career opportunities available to those with a criminal justice degree. At Grace Christian University, we have compiled a list of some of the most popular career options requiring a criminal justice degree and the average salary those positions make. Take a look!
- Police Officers and Detectives – According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2022, the median pay for police officers and detectives was $69,160 ($33.25/hour).
- FBI Agent – FBI agents are some of the highest-paying criminal justice careers with an average salary of $93,970.
- Forensic Psychologist – Forensic psychologists combine clinical work and data analysis. This unique set of skills nets them an average salary of $72,285.
- Forensic Science Technician – Forensic science technicians make an average salary of $63,740 for aiding in criminal investigations and analyzing data.
- Judge and Hearing Officers – Judges and hearing officers make a median salary of 128,610 ($61.83/hour)
What Affects the Salary?
Clearly, there’s a wide range in how much someone can make with a job in criminal justice. Why is that? Well, there are several factors that can affect how much you make with a criminal justice degree.
Firstly, the most obvious factor that determines your salary is what specific field you go into. Your specialization is a main contributor to what your salary will be. Jobs requiring more specialization will pay more than those that do not require any.
Next, tied to this idea of specialization is another key factor; level of education. Jobs will typically pay more the higher your level of education, as this typically means you have greater knowledge of your field. Getting your Master’s or Doctorate will enable you to get higher paying jobs, like psychologist or professor.
Geographic location can also play a role in deciding your salary. Some jobs, such as police and detectives, get paid more in busy urban areas than they do in rural areas.
Whether your job is in the private or public sector can also affect how much you make annually. Jobs working with the government typically earn more at the federal level, though more opportunities are becoming available in the private sector, especially for those who are tech-savvy.
Why Choose Grace?
With our Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree, you can earn your degree from a Biblical perspective as you prepare to go out into the world as a courageous ambassador. Our knowledgeable professors have the experience and expertise to prepare you for a career in criminal justice, no matter your desired specialty. Request more info today and start your career path with Grace!
