10 Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
What can you do with a Criminal Justice degree?
Criminal Justice majors study topics every aspect of crime, the law, and the justice system. This education and set of skills can help prepare you for a variety of different careers.
Here is a list of 10 jobs you might consider if you are majoring in Criminal Justice:
| Job Title | Projected Job Growth | Median Weekly Salary | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forensic Science Technicians | 6.43% | $1,189.87 | $61,873 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | -2.93% | $1,196.40 | $62,213 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 2.11% | $1,910.40 | $99,341 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | -4.16% | $921.60 | $47,923 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 1.61% | $1,608.40 | $83,637 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 2.38% | $1,242.35 | $64,602 |
| Bailiffs | -1.79% | $929.19 | $48,318 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 1.61% | $1,608.40 | $83,637 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 4.17% | $1,131.96 | $58,862 |
| Postsecondary Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers | 4.79% | $1,520.42 | $79,062 |
Forensic Science Technicians
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Correctional Officers and Jailers
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.
Bailiffs
Maintain order in courts of law.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Private Detectives and Investigators
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
Postsecondary Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers
Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Explore Career Clusters
A career cluster is a group of jobs with similar features that often require similar knowledge or skills. Criminal Justice jobs often fall under the Education and Training, Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security, and Government and Public Administration career clusters. Explore more to learn about what skills and interests align to these career clusters.
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