Criminal Justice Career Outlook and Salary Information

As our communities work hard to fight crime and to prevent terrorism, the outlook for criminal justice graduates appears solid. An experienced criminal justice professional can expect a strong salary that grows every year, as well as the opportunity to grow his or her skills and expand his or her career.

Probation officers and corrections officials can expect to earn an average salary of about $40,000 per year, according to the most recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, employees of government agencies enjoy extensive benefits packages. Compensation often includes health, dental, and retirement benefits, as well as discounted college tuition and professional development programs. As more communities vow to remain hard on crime, analysts expect steady demand for probation officers and corrections officials with criminal justice degrees.

The United States Department of Labor continues to track the rapid growth of job openings for trained paralegals and legal researchers. As communities prosecute criminals with increased vigor, law firms and prosecutors require teams of skilled paralegals to keep cases on track. In many cases, paralegals can earn an average annual salary of about $40,000. In larger cities, or in communities where competition is fierce, law firms and government agencies try to lure paralegals by offering higher wages and stronger benefits packages.

Although government agencies maintain positive outlooks for all criminal justice careers, experts highlight the need for criminal justice professionals to invest in ongoing, quality training. By participating in criminal justice degree and certificate programs, you can qualify for even higher paying positions.

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