Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Depending on your career path, you might need to complete one or more degrees in criminal justice. Typical degree programs include:
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
- Job-Specific Certificate
Criminal Justice-related careers involve all areas of daily life, from security guards at our workplace to police officers and the secret service that protect our elected officials. Most careers related to criminal justice are state or locally funded, which means the salary comes from tax dollars. If you live in a growing area, growth potential is bigger. If your area is not growing, there might be more competition for these civil-service positions.
Depending on your personal goals, you could complete your coursework in criminal justice in as little as a year (for a certification) or as long as four years (for a Bachelor’s Degree). You also might decide to return to school to get a Master’s Degree, or you might need to get re-certified later in your career.
How to Become a Criminologist
Criminologists work for or with law enforcement agencies, which can be local or federal. Although the work can be unsettling, a criminologist questions victims and victim families, investigates crime scenes, and studies clues in order to assist in the identification of crime perpetrators.
About being a Criminologist
A criminology career can be rewarding because of the intellectual aspects of the job along with the camaraderie felt with law enforcement officers. Criminologists also develop psychological profiles of criminals and use statistics and sociological patterns in order to identify them.
Training Required to be a Criminologist
To start a career as a criminologist, you will need a bachelor's degree. Most criminologists have majors in psychology or sociology. Many continue their education after becoming employed as criminologists and study behavioral sciences. Some states require licensing to be employed as a criminologist, and these licenses require the passing of a written exam.
Criminologists start their careers in assistant roles and may spend two to five years learning procedures and protocols. After proving their ability to provide analysis of crime investigations, they take on the role of criminologist, typically as part of a investigation team.
Criminologist Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average criminologist salary is roughly $73,010. Depending upon the specific industry you enter, criminologist salaries can range between $62K for local government positions and $93k for federal executive positions. Thinking about teaching criminology to others? Salaries for post-secondary teaching positions in the field of criminology range between $50-60k.
(Salary data retrieved 8/24/11)
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