What's the Salary for Someone with a Criminal Justice Degree?

<h3 id="section---CareerOptions">Career Options</h3> <p>Graduates with criminal justice degrees are qualified to work in a number of jobs. The average salary for each job varies depending on factors like location and employer type. The three common job titles for people with Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in criminal justice, according to January 2023 data from <i>PayScale.com</i>, are police patrol officer, probation officer and paralegal. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutCriminalJusticeDegreeCareerOptions"> Important Facts About Criminal Justice Degree Career Options</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th> Police Patrol Officer </th><th> Probation Officer </th><th> Paralegals</th></tr> <tr><td> On-the-Job Training </td><td> Provided by training academy before becoming an officer </td><td> Mandatory training program provided by state or federal government </td><td> Not formally provided, but proficiency is acquired through work experience and schooling</td></tr> <tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 3% growth </td><td> 0% growth </td><td> 14% growth</td></tr> <tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Leadership; physical strength and stamina; empathy; good judgment and decision making </td><td> Critical thinking; organization; clear communication; emotional stability </td><td> Computer competency; organization; investigation; social nuance</td></tr> <tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Correctional officers and bailiffs; private detectives and investigators </td><td> Social and human service assistants; social workers; substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors </td><td> Lawyers; occupational health and safety specialists; secretaries and administrative assistants</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---PolicePatrolOfficer">Police Patrol Officer</h3> <p>Many people with bachelor's degrees in criminal justice decide to become police officers. <i>PayScale.com</i> reported in January 2023 that these professionals made salaries ranging from $39,000-$90,000 with a BS in Criminal Justice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) <i>www.bls.gov</i>, the overall average annual salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers was $70,750 in May 2021, but this figure varies by state of employment and employer. </p> <p>The BLS reported in May 2021 that police and sheriff's patrol officers working for local government earned an average wage of $70,690, while those working for state government earned an average wage of $78,350. </p> <h3 id="section---ProbationOfficer">Probation Officer</h3> <p>Probation officers and other correctional system workers usually need a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social work or a related field. <i>PayScale.com</i> reported that most probation officers with a BS in Criminal Justice earned $39,829 in January 2023. The BLS reported that probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned an average salary of $63,290 yearly in May 2021. </p> <p>Two factors that can affect pay are employer type and location. For example, probation officers employed by state government organizations earned an average yearly salary of $60,460 in May 2021, according to the BLS. On the other hand, those who work for other residential care facilities made a lower average wage of $37,170. </p> <h3 id="section---Paralegals">Paralegals</h3> <p>A bachelor's degree in criminal justice prepares graduates for jobs as paralegals. <i>PayScale.com</i> reported that most paralegals with a BS in Criminal Justice earned around $47,821 in January 2023. According to the BLS, the average yearly salary for paralegals and legal assistants was $58,330 in May 2021. Most worked in the legal services industry and earned an average wage of $55,690. </p> <p>The BLS also reported that California, which offered an average wage of $70,290, employed the highest number of paralegals and legal assistants. The District of Columbia was the state offering the highest average wage of $83,420.</p>