Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs With Criminal Justice Degree

If you are planning to pursue a career in Criminal Justice, and are looking for salary-related information, then you have come to the right place. This article lists down the Top 10 highest paying jobs with a Criminal Justice Degree in the U.S. The following ranking is based on the information taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.



Lawyers

These professionals represent clients in civil and criminal litigation. Many jurisdictions and states have made it mandatory for lawyers to obtain a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$145,300

Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree.

Job Outlook, 2018-28

6%

Top Paying State, 2019

District of Columbia

$192,180

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

Cable and Other Subscription Programming

$224,970

Judges and Hearing Officers: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Judges and Hearing Officers oversee the legal proceedings in the court. It has been estimated that the employment growth in this sector will increase by 3%. These professionals typically require a law degree to join this field.

BLS has further categorized this broad segment into Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates. The employment data for this sub-section is mentioned below. Please note that the growth outlook figures for this sub-section are not available, hence the growth figure for the broad category of Judges and Hearing Officers have been mentioned above.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$128,550

Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree.

Job Outlook, 2018-28

3% (Judges and Hearing Officers)

Top Paying State, 2019

Illinois

$190,450

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)

$155,090

 

Police and Detectives: Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Police Officers fight crime, while Detectives gather evidence to hunt down the suspects. It has been estimated that the number of employment opportunities in this sector will grow by 5% from 2018 to 2028.

BLS has further categorized this segment into Detectives and Criminal Investigators. These professionals are responsible for conducting investigations related to violations of the local, state, and federal laws to solve and prevent crimes. The employment statistics for Detectives and Criminal Investigators are mentioned below. Please note that the growth figures for this category have not been published by BLS, instead BLS has reported the growth figure of the broad category of ‘Police and Detectives’ which has already been mentioned above.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$86,030

Entry-Level Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent. A college degree may be required by some federal agencies.

Top Paying State, 2019

Alaska

$113,420

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)

$107,150

 

Fire Inspectors: Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Fire Inspectors are responsible for examining buildings in order to identify fire hazards. It has been predicted that the employment opportunities in this category will grow by 8% from 2018 to 2028. BLS has further categorized this segment into Fire Inspectors and Investigators. The employment statistics for this sub-category are mentioned below:

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$64,730

Entry-Level Education

Should have completed a postsecondary educational program for emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Some employers might prefer candidates with an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree in fire science, chemistry, or engineering.

Job Outlook, 2018-28

8% (Fire Inspectors)

Top Paying State, 2019

California

$107,270

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services

$106,580

Forensic Science Technicians

These professionals gather, classify, and examine evidence related to criminal investigations. In order to join this profession, individuals usually need a bachelor’s degree in forensic science or natural science.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$63,170

Entry-Level Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job Outlook, 2018-28

14%

Top Paying State, 2019

California

$87,200

Top Paying Industry, 2019

Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)

$111,180

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

These professionals offer social services to assist in the rehabilitation of law breakers. In order to join this profession, individuals usually need to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field. Moreover, many employers require aspiring probation officers to clear psychological, written and oral exams.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$59,910

Entry-Level Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job Outlook, 2018-28

3%

Top Paying State, 2019

California

$91,760

Top Paying Industry, 2019

Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)

$62,160

Private Detective and Investigators

These professionals collect, examine, and report information regarding organizations or individuals to clients, or identify occurrences of criminal activities in private establishments. In order to get into this field, individuals usually require a high school diploma. However, some candidates may be required to obtain a 2 or 4-year degree in a relevant discipline, such as criminal justice.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$57,000

Entry-Level Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent.

Job Outlook, 2018-28

8%

Top Paying State, 2019

District of Columbia

$69,790

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution

$91,300

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

These professionals assist lawyers by researching legal precedents and investigating facts.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$55,020

Entry-Level Education

Associate’s Degree

Job Outlook, 2018-28

12%

Top Paying State, 2019

District of Columbia

$82,010

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

Grantmaking and Giving Services

$91,110

 

Correctional Officers and Bailiffs: Bailiffs

BLS has categorized Bailiffs as a sub-segment of Correctional Officers and Bailiffs. Bailiffs are professionals who maintain order in the court. The employment statistics for Bailiffs are mentioned below.

Please note that the job outlook figures for the broad category are available. It has been predicted that the employment opportunities for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs will decrease by 7% from 2018 to 2028.

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$51,840

Entry-Level Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent.

Job Outlook, 2018-28

-7% (Correctional Officers and Bailiffs)

Top Paying State, 2019

New York

$69,650

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)

$67,670

Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers: Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators

Gaming surveillance officers and security guards are responsible for protecting property from illegal activity. It has been predicted that that employment opportunities in this sector will grow by 4% from 2018 to 2028. This category has been further categorized into Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators, whose employment data has been mentioned below:

Annual Mean Salary, 2019

$38,030

Entry-Level Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent.

Job Outlook, 2018-28

4% (Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers)

Top Paying State, 2019

Illinois

$63,860

Industry, 2019 Top Paying

State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)

$65,060