Degrees in Criminal Justice will prepare students for entry-level employment opportunities in the many sub fields of criminal justice to uphold justice and law within communities. These include law enforcement, corrections, probation, security services, homeland security, forensics etc in both public and private sectors. The degree programs are designed to provide a fundamental understanding of the United States criminal justice system and as well as impart knowledge on social and behavioral sciences that are essential for the future undertaking of criminal justice careers. Some example of starting positions include forensic scientist, law secretary, private detective, social counselor, federal agent, uniformed patrol, probation, parole and corrections officer etc. If the protection of people and upholding their rights is your calling, a criminal justice degree can equip you with the proper knowledge and training needed for this exciting career. A bachelors degree is now considered the minimum entry requirement for professional progression in this industry, and there are further upgrading training and education opportunities leading to a doctorate in criminal justice and related programs. There may be some entry-level positions that comes with on the job or in-house training, such as security officers. However, it is expected on your part to continue further and upgrade your qualifications in order to be considered for career advancement.
Although many criminal justice graduates work in the police force and federal agencies, there are also many opportunities in courts, law firms, rehabilitation etc. There are many people who have confused criminal justice with the field of criminology. Specialists of the latter are responsible for scientific investigations of crime acts while criminal justice professionals withhold justice within the community and ensure the law is used rightly.
How much money do criminal justice professionals earn?
In face of rapid globalization and the poor economy outlook, crime rates are not likely to go down and criminal justice employment opportunities are expected to be recession proof. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts an increase of more than 29% in the demand for federal agents, police and immigration officers, etc over the next few years. The starting salary for criminal justice graduates is generally above average and certain genre do offer significantly higher pays. For example, law enforcement officers such as police, sheriffs, prison correction etc starts with a median annual pay of $45,300 while social counsellors starts off with around $40,300. The difference is due to the nature of work as well as shift duty allowances. FBI agents also enjoy a special overtime allowance of 25% due to the more demanding work schedules. Career progression prospects are very good, and for example, senior police officers in managerial positions command around $90,200 per annum.
Get information on online criminal justice programs
The US government has been investing heavily on homeland security and many law and justice departments have increased academic requirements for entry level positions requiring at least an associate degree in criminal justice. Online criminal justice programs offered by many reputable schools include associate, bachelor and master degrees. As the enrollment requirements for these schools vary a lot, it is best to request for more information from the school of choice in order to make the most appropriate decision. Click here to select and request online for more information about enrollment procedures.
Showing posts with label criminal justice careers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label criminal justice careers. Show all posts
Criminal Justice Career Earnings
Are you thinking about pursuing a degree in criminal justice? Being a wide encompassing field of study, there are many careers to choose from upon graduation, depending on your criminal justice degree specialization such as law enforcement or forensic psychology, juvenile justice etc. The first job that comes to mind is to join the police force, federal agency or national security positions. Although these justice jobs can be dangerous at times, the renumeration is pretty good and you can expect a rather high starting salary compared to your peers fresh from the college. Careers in criminal justice are not narrow ended and as you earn more experience and academic qualifications, you can progress up the corporate scale and increase earning potential. There is also many opportunities for mid career changes.
According to the US Department of Labor and US Department of Justice, the median annual earnings in 2006 for law enforcement officers such as police and sheriff is around $50,330 at the local level and $55,780 at the state level. The median annual earnings for new FBI agents is $60,199 with overtime. Nonsupervisory FBI positions are paid around $94,268 while management and executive positions are paid about $131,033 per year with overtime. Note that federal law provides a special 25% law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) for special agents and inspectors because of the large amount of overtime work expected from them.
Mediators with a Juris Doctor degree can earn between $82,780 and $109,490. New paralegals are paid a yearly median salary of $50,000 including bonuses while senior paralegals can expect $80,000. Legal secretaries earned a median yearly salary of $40,550. Private detectives and investigators are paid a median salary of $42,660. Forensic criminologists, scientists and psychologists earn a median annual salary of between $45,781 and $78,000. Correctional officers earn a median salary of $42,500 per year while those in managerial positions earn $56,510.
Note that geographic location will influence the career renumeration due to differences in the cost of living. The salaries will be slightly higher in certain states and larger cities. Competition will also be stiffer for criminal justice jobs with state or federal agencies and police departments as these tend to pay more compared to equivalent jobs at the local government level or in the private sector.
According to the US Department of Labor and US Department of Justice, the median annual earnings in 2006 for law enforcement officers such as police and sheriff is around $50,330 at the local level and $55,780 at the state level. The median annual earnings for new FBI agents is $60,199 with overtime. Nonsupervisory FBI positions are paid around $94,268 while management and executive positions are paid about $131,033 per year with overtime. Note that federal law provides a special 25% law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) for special agents and inspectors because of the large amount of overtime work expected from them.
Mediators with a Juris Doctor degree can earn between $82,780 and $109,490. New paralegals are paid a yearly median salary of $50,000 including bonuses while senior paralegals can expect $80,000. Legal secretaries earned a median yearly salary of $40,550. Private detectives and investigators are paid a median salary of $42,660. Forensic criminologists, scientists and psychologists earn a median annual salary of between $45,781 and $78,000. Correctional officers earn a median salary of $42,500 per year while those in managerial positions earn $56,510.
Note that geographic location will influence the career renumeration due to differences in the cost of living. The salaries will be slightly higher in certain states and larger cities. Competition will also be stiffer for criminal justice jobs with state or federal agencies and police departments as these tend to pay more compared to equivalent jobs at the local government level or in the private sector.
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