What are the best Criminal Justice Degree Careers?
The types of careers you can obtain when you work in criminal justice are broken down into several main categories.
- Police officers work with the public, often patrolling the streets or responding to 911 calls. This type of job may be best for those who want a lot of interaction with people and who want a lot of variety in their day. These jobs may be stressful, as you often have to respond to numerous different emergency calls or apprehend criminals, so the jobs are best for people who can manage stress well
- Police detectives solve crimes. These jobs are often best for those with an analytical mind who like to figure out puzzles and answer mysteries. Those who are detail oriented may make especially good police detectives
- Forensic science jobs are the best criminal justice degree careers for those who have a scientific mind. Forensic scientists analyze evidence and use that data to help solve crimes. You should be comfortable going to crimes scenes if you want to be a forensic scientist
- Prison guards and wardens supervise prisons and prisoners. This type of job is best for those who want to help prisoners once they are in prison, and who have the patience to deal with prisoners and the authoritative nature necessary to ensure the prisoners will listen to them when they attempt to keep order
- Probation officers supervise those who are on probation or parole. These types of jobs are best for those who want to help with the rehabilitation process, and who are able to be vigilant for signs of trouble while still be encouraging and helping parolees to rejoin society as productive citizens
- Paralegals work in law offices and do legal research. These types of jobs are best for those who like studying ideas and concepts and who have a passion for legal analysis.
Education
The best type of criminal justice degrees to obtain a career in criminal justice depends on your goal. You can obtain associates, bachelors, masters or PhD in criminal justice. You can also obtain a general criminal justice degree or specialize in a specific area or field of criminal justice, depending on your career goals.
Job Outlook and Salary
When deciding on the best criminal justice degree career for you, you may also want to consider the projected salary within the field and the job outlook. While all jobs with criminal justice degrees are expected to grow at an average rate or higher according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 survey, certain jobs have a potential for higher earnings and more growth:
- For police officers, the median salary is $51,410 and the highest 10 percent earn $79,680 or higher. Jobs in this field are expected to grow at a rate of 10 percent through 2018.
- Police detectives earn an average salary of $75,409 and the highest 10 percent earn $97,870 or higher. Jobs in this field are expected to grow at a rate of 10 percent through 2018.
- Correctional officers earn an average salary of $38,380 and the highest 10 percent earn $64,110 or higher. Jobs in this field are expected to grow at a rate of 19 percent through 2018
- Forensic scientists earn an average salary of $49,857 and the highest percent make $80,330 or higher. Jobs in this field are expected to grow at a rate of around 20 percent through 2018.
- Paralegals have an average salary of $46,120 and he top ten percent earn $73,450 or higher. Jobs in this field are expected to grow at a rate of 28 percent through 2018.
