Criminal Justice Career Guide: Education and Salary Overview

Patrol officers typically work for police departments and county sheriff’s offices, responding to emergency and nonemergency calls. These uniformed officials complete routine patrols and conduct regular law enforcement activities, like implementing traffic laws, arresting suspects, and conducting investigations.

Patrol officers often work with detectives and other first responders as needed. While much of their work occurs in the field, patrol officers may also need to complete office work and testify in court.

Criminal investigators, often called “detectives” within local law enforcement agencies, work with police officers and forensic science technicians to solve criminal cases. They gather evidence through research, interviews, and crime scene documentation.

Some criminal investigators find employment in the public sector, while others work as special agents for federal agencies like the FBI or the DEA. Depending on their agency and authority, investigators may carry out searches and arrests.

Fish and game wardens help protect both the people and wildlife resources by enforcing outdoor laws related to hunting, boating, and fishing. Responsibilities typically include monitoring nature reserves, issuing licenses, and executing search-and-rescue missions.

Some game wardens, also known as wildlife officers, focus on conservation efforts by collecting biological data and educating the public about wildlife care. Fish and game wardens may work for local, state, or federal agencies.

Forensic science technicians analyze evidence to help criminal investigators, police officers, and lawyers solve crimes and settle criminal cases. Technicians often split their time between collecting crime scene evidence and analyzing their findings in laboratories.

While some forensic science technicians complete general evidence analysis, others focus on specific techniques. Common specializations include fingerprint, ballistic, and blood spatter analysis.

Crime analysts support police departments in solving crimes and creating more effective operations. These non-sworn professionals, also called public safety analysts and police information analysts, analyze crime patterns, research long-term problems, and proactively share information about development threats.

They may also help make data more accessible to law enforcement officers by implementing database software, training colleagues, and developing investigative reports.

Police dispatchers and 911 operators are classified as public safety telecommunicators. These professionals answer calls and messages from community members seeking help. They must calmly interact with people to collect relevant information and determine the type of emergency. If needed, dispatchers contact the correct first-responder group and track their arrival.

Operators and dispatchers typically work in communication centers as non-sworn law enforcement staff. However, some police and fire departments directly hire public safety telecommunicators.

Bailiffs maintain order in courtrooms. They announce the arrival of the judge, instruct jurors and witnesses on where to sit, and escort files to the judge. Bailiffs also handle disturbances during trials by escorting people from the courtroom or removing jurors from the courthouse.

Depending on the size of the court, the bailiff may also escort defendants from the courtroom or arrange lodging for jurors. Some bailiff jobs may require law enforcement training.

Criminal defense attorneys are legal specialists who represent people or organizations accused of criminal wrongdoing. They defend clients during legal and court proceedings by completing extensive legal research and preparation.

You can prepare for a career as a criminal defense lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, criminal justice, or political science. Then, you’ll have to proceed to law school — where you’ll specialize in criminal law — and pass your state’s bar examination.

Paralegals assist attorneys by providing legal support services. They file legal materials like motions, interview clients, and edit legal documents. Paralegals also accompany lawyers to court, edit briefs, and supervise junior paralegals.

They need strong written communication skills, knowledge of legal terminology, and familiarity with the legal system to perform their duties.

Court clerks handle administrative duties for courts. Their responsibilities typically include organizing records, scheduling hearings, setting up the courtroom, and fact-checking documents. Clerks also help with pre-court duties, like briefing judges and swearing in witnesses.

Since court clerks work with extensive documentation, they usually need technology experience. Interpersonal skills can also help when answering the public’s questions and contacting lawyers about upcoming hearings.

Also called “administrative assistants,” legal secretaries typically work under paralegals or attorneys and prepare legal documents. They work on subpoenas, summonses, motions, or other documents essential to court proceedings.

Legal secretaries may also help with legal research, scheduling, and basic filing tasks. They typically don’t need a college education to launch a legal secretary career, although a criminal justice degree can provide the necessary understanding of legal terms and processes.

Court reporters create written transcripts of court proceedings. These transcripts serve as official records of trials. During a trial, court reporters record statements from witnesses, attorneys, and judges. They may also read back portions of transcripts.

Some court reporters use stenotype machines to create a shorthand account of a trial, while others use recordings or software programs to create written transcripts. Court reporters typically receive specialized training through technical and/or vocational programs.

Correctional officers typically work in penal institutions like jails and prisons. They help maintain order by overseeing cell checks, diffusing conflicts, and supervising daily activities. Officers also write reports about incidents and behaviors, sometimes offering counseling.

While most of their duties occur within correctional facilities, officers often escort people in custody to other facilities, like hospitals or courtrooms. Considering the risk of physical conflict, correctional officers usually need to complete physical training and exercise self-discipline.

Probation and parole officers supervise individuals released on conditional terms. These officers regularly call and visit parolees and probationers, checking on their rehabilitation progress. They may also offer support with professional training or substance use counseling.

Officers keep detailed reports and may need to testify in court. They typically work for state or local governments to ensure community safety.

Forensic psychiatrists work as licensed doctors but do not participate in the typical patient-doctor relationship. Instead, forensic psychiatrists help with court-ordered evaluations for civil and criminal cases. Typical responsibilities include evaluations for involuntary hospitalization, aid in sentencing, civil competence, and worker’s compensation.

The evaluation reports then serve as evidence, although psychiatrists may also need to testify. Forensic psychiatrists can work for correctional facilities or the court system, often while maintaining their own private practice.

*Note: the salary data for this role reflects the input of fewer than 50 respondents.

Forensic social workers provide counseling, mental status evaluations, and psychosocial assessments for individuals involved in civil and criminal cases. They advocate for each patient, helping break down barriers like criminalization and exploitation.

Casework typically varies for forensic social workers. For example, they may work on cases of juvenile arrest, divorce, elder abuse, or criminal offense. The workload can also depend on the employer. Forensic social workers may work for hospitals, prisons, nonprofit organizations, or the court system.

Private investigators (PIs) conduct investigations by performing surveillance, completing background checks, and analyzing documents. They help clients recover lost assets, find missing persons, and research financial fraud.

Private investigators may work in the field or in office settings, depending on the type of work. Their duties can include reviewing financial documents, locating witnesses, and serving legal documents. Bounty hunters and loss prevention associates are types of PIs.

Security guards protect private property. They patrol buildings, manage entrances, and record visitors’ movements to prevent theft, property damage, and vandalism. They must also respond to emergencies by restraining unauthorized visitors and contacting emergency personnel.

In addition to protecting against theft, security guards protect against safety violations and fires. The position requires variable hours, and some employers prefer candidates with backgrounds in criminal justice.

Information security analysts protect companies’ data by implementing cybersecurity procedures. They install and manage security hardware devices and software applications, ensuring unauthorized users cannot access confidential data.

Information security analysts also train users on accessing secure data. When data breaches occur, they conduct investigations and implement system improvements to prevent future cyberattacks.

Criminal intelligence analysts use data to analyze and identify patterns and make predictions, including predicting criminal activity. This may include analyzing incoming intelligence reports, providing written reports on findings, and working with other analysts to interpret large amounts of data.

Criminal intelligence analysts typically work in government organizations, including homeland security, the military, local police departments, federal law enforcement, and international organizations (such as Interpol). Some professionals also work in private settings such as research corporations.

Criminologists study patterns of criminal activity in specific geographic areas and use their analysis to propose potential solutions. In their duties, criminologists work with various stakeholders, including law enforcement, politicians, policymakers, and community members.

Criminologists may also actively participate in developing laws and social policies to deter, prevent, or remediate criminal activity.

Criminal justice professors work at colleges and universities, teaching topics like criminal procedure and crime prevention. Besides preparing for and leading these courses, professors also advise learners and work closely with graduate students interested in the criminal justice field.

Some criminal justice instructors also lead research projects. Educators typically need to complete regular professional development hours to maintain their teaching positions.

Criminal justice can be a great major if you want to protect or serve the public. As a wide-spanning field, you can find occupations in offender rehabilitation, law enforcement, and legal services. Some of these roles require an undergraduate degree, while others only require a high school diploma.

An advanced degree in criminal justice may also open up opportunities to move into higher-paying careers in academia and legal professions.

With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you can pursue different jobs in law enforcement, such as FBI special agents and patrol officers. You may also apply for entry-level legal or court positions, like court reporters or paralegals. Other careers include probation officers and insurance investigators.

Some of the highest-paying criminal justice roles include forensic psychiatrist, lawyer, and judge — all careers that require advanced degrees. Payscale reports that, as of April 2025, the average forensic psychiatrist’s salary reached $215,000, though this figure reflects fewer than 50 respondents.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that lawyers and judges earned median salaries of $151,160 and $144,040, respectively, in 2024.

An associate degree in criminal justice can be the first step towards a career as a paralegal or legal assistant. Additionally, some careers in federal or police departments require an associate degree.

These roles include working as a police officer, detective, or investigator. Additionally, you could become a fingerprint technician, evidence technician, bailiff, correctional officer, private investigator, or victim advocate.