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Criminal Justice Degree Degree and Career Overview
Average Salary & Job Outlook
Police officers median wages (2009)
$ 38,000 annually
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists median wages (2009)
$ 43,000 annually
Detectives median wages (2009)
$ 45,000 annually
U.S. Minimum Wage
$10,712 Annually

Earnings for criminal justice workers vary by field, hours and location.

  • In 2009 median annual earnings for detectives was $45,000.
  • Police officers earned an average of $38,000.
  • Annual earnings of private detectives and investigators were $32,650 in 2005.
  • The median annual earnings of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists were $43,000.

Employment of criminal justice workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the next ten years. The criminal justice field is expected to grow up to 20% by 2014.

Our country wouldn't be able to operate without all the men and women who enforce the laws! Read all about the career opportunities in law enforcement and how a college degree can help you land an exciting job in the legal system.

Criminal Justice Careers

Law enforcement jobs are some of the most selfless and rewarding jobs out there today. Earning a Criminal Justice degree or certificate is a good way to get into any number of jobs offered in law enforcement. Departments are increasingly encouraging potential employees to take college courses; some even require a college degree.

Here are just some of the many jobs offered once you complete a criminal justice degree program:

Detectives are investigators who gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. They conduct interviews, observe suspects activities and participate in both raids and arrests.

Police officers participate in duties such as patrolling and responding to 911 and service calls. Some officers direct traffic at the scene of an accident, investigate burglaries and must be able to give first aid to accident victims.

Forensic technologists help criminal investigators by gathering, classifying and analyzing physical evidence found at crime scenes. They generally specialize in DNA and firearm evidence. Main tasks for forensic science technologists include running DNA tests on tissues, fibers, hair, skin, blood and other body fluids. They also perform ballistic and other weapon analysis. Other responsibilities involve writing up reports and giving expert opinions to the investigators based on the evidence they find.

Private detectives and investigators may provide executive, corporate and celebrity protection and individual background profiles. These criminal justice officers investigate everything from such as identity theft and fraud to missing persons and infidelity cases.

Probation officers work with people who are sentenced to probation instead of prison. They supervise offenders through contact with the offenders and their families.

Correctional treatment specialists work in jails, prisons and probation agencies. Their main focus is evaluating inmates and making release plans.

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