Salaries in the field of criminal justice will vary with the level of your education, your geographic location, and the type of work that you do. Criminal justice salaries can range from $24,000 for entry level positions, to $170,000 for senior and executive positions. Jobs that require less education will pay less, and jobs that require high degrees of education will offer large salaries and great benefits packages. If you want to earn a large salary, a college degree is definitely a necessity.
Based on average salary statistics, the top paying criminal justice careers include:
- Detective – $89,354
- Criminal Investigator – $86,012
- FBI Agent – $79,648
- Police Officer – $74,464
- Secret Service Agent – $68,288
- Police Detective – $64,518
- Private Investigator – $62,400
- Substance Abuse Counselor – $59,850
- Insurance and Fraud Investigator – $56,449
- Legal Secretary – $54,000
If you are interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice it is recommended that you earn a college degree. If you already work in the field, most federal and local agencies will subsidize tuition to help you go back to school.
See also: Police Pay Incentives
