Criminal Justice SalaryHow much can you really make with a Criminal Justice Degree?What is a typical criminal justice salary? How much can I expect to make with this degree? All great questions and like always, there is no simple answer. Criminal justice is a broad field, encompassing a number of disciplines and professions. With a criminal justice degree you could work in the legal, law enforcement, and forensics or corrections field. Your salary will greatly depend on your level of education, area of focus as well as type of employer and geographic location. Level of Education Like in any other field, your criminal justice salary will depend on your level of education. A
bachelor’s degree
will give you a greater advantage over those without a college degree. According to the US Department of Labor, a college degree will allow you to earn on average about $15,000 more per year than those without a college degree. Your earning potential is even higher with a
master’s degree,
not to mention your opportunity of advancement and job selection.
Area of Focus While any area within the field of criminal justice is high in demand, your criminal justice salary will very across different fields and specializations. In the legal filed, paralegals make an average of $50,000 per year while legal secretaries had a median salary of $40, 550 in 2006 (2008 National Association of Legal Assistants survey). However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a JD degree earned between $82,000 and $109, 490. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police officers and sheriff’s had a median annual salary of $50,000 at the local level, and $55,000 at the state level in 2006. Positions at the federal level lead to higher salary but are also more competitive. According to the US Department of Justice, FBI agents earned about $60,199 a year with overtime. FBI supervisors make as much as $111,394 or $131,033 per year with overtime. Forensic scientists earn an average salary of $50,340 per year, with federal salaries being higher compared to those employed at the state or local level. Forensic psychologists earn a median salary of $78,000 in 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in the field of corrections earn $42,500 as corrections officers, correction supervisors earn $56,510and probation officers can earn a median salary of $47,980. Urban areas tend to provide higher salaries as the cost of living is taken into account when distributing wages. For more information, check out Payscale as it has an excellent chart of the median criminal justice salary ranges. Return from Criminal Justice Salary to Criminal Justice Degree Online
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