What Does a Criminologist Do? - Job Description & Salary
Find out what a criminologist does. Learn about typical job duties, education requirements, wages and job outlook to determine if this is the career for you.
Career Information At a Glance
Criminologists use their knowledge of psychological and social theories to understand criminal behavior, as well as the institutions that respond to crime. They do this by analyzing and understanding normal behavior and behavior which deviates from these norms. Take a look at the following chart for an overview of the skills and education needed to pursue a career in criminology.
<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Typical Degree</b> </td><td> Master's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Education Field of Study</b> </td><td> Criminal justice <br/> Sociology <br/> Psychology <br/> Criminology</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Key skills</b> </td><td> Analytical, numerical, critical thinking, communication</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b> </td><td> 5%* (for sociologists)</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $86,110* (for sociologists)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoesACriminologistDo">What Does a Criminologist Do?</h3><p>Criminologists' duties involve analyzing data to understand why crimes have been committed, as well as finding ways to detect and prevent future criminal activity. Most of a criminologist's time is spent in a laboratory or office, collecting and analyzing data. This information is used in investigations, and for determining future policies and procedures. Just some of a criminologist's time is spent at crime scenes.
</p><p>There may also be opportunities for career advancement to become a chief or head of criminology within a law enforcement agency, which would involve overseeing research and managing staff. If you work in an academic setting as a criminologist, you would be carrying out research, such as looking into new approaches and theories of criminal behavior or teaching students.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatShouldIStudy">What Should I Study?</h3><p>Many criminologists begin with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, sociology or psychology. It is important that you undertake coursework involving statistics, computer science and report writing, as these are essential skills for criminologists. While you might become a criminologist with just a bachelor's degree, many criminologists go on to earn a master's degree in a behavioral science. However, work experience in a related field and a bachelor's degree can be enough to start a career in criminology.
</p><h3 id="section---HowMuchCouldIEarn">How Much Could I Earn?</h3><p>Criminologists are technically referred to as sociologists. The BLS reported in 2020 that sociologists, including criminologists, earned a median annual salary of $86,110. The majority of these workers earned between $52,640 and $143,020 yearly. The highest paid industry that same year was the state government, followed by research and development.
</p><h3 id="section---WhereMightIWork">Where Might I Work?</h3><p>It is common for criminologists to work in local, state or federal law enforcement agencies. These roles involve extensive background and security checks. You could also find work in an academic setting, employed by a university or a research facility.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>A few related jobs include psychologist, anthropologist, archaeologist and survey researcher. Psychologists are studying human behavior more broadly than criminologists, aiming to understand cognitive and emotional processes. Anthropologists and archaeologists also study human behavior, but are focused on human origin and development. Survey researchers require numerical and statistical skills, similarly to criminologists. They design and conduct surveys, analyzing the information to find key information and trends.</p>