What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree?

Written by: East Carolina University® • Sep 19, 2024

A paralegal holding folders in a conference room.

What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree?

Earning a degree in criminal justice can lead to a number of highly rewarding careers. Criminal justice majors explore investigative methods, the judicial process, and the causes of criminal behavior. They also strengthen their analytical and problem-solving skills.

There are many options for what you can do with a criminal justice degree . Criminal justice graduates work as police officers, criminal investigators, and probation officers, to name just a few of the positions that a bachelor’s in criminal justice can open up.

Career Paths for Criminal Justice Graduates

After earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, many graduates pursue job opportunities in protective services, corrections, and the justice system. For example, criminal justice graduates become police officers, detectives, and investigators. A bachelor’s degree also meets the educational requirement for jobs in federal law enforcement as an FBI agent or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.

Within the legal system, criminal justice graduates work as correctional treatment specialists, paralegals, and victim advocates. They also work with minors in the juvenile justice system.

Professionals with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice have a median annual salary of approximately $66,000, according to February 2024 data from Payscale.

9 Criminal Justice Careers

The options for what you do with a criminal justice degree depend on your interests. Graduates pursue careers in law enforcement and the justice system. They work in settings such as police departments, government agencies, the courts, and legal offices. A degree in criminal justice can also lead to opportunities to work for private companies.

The following are nine in-demand criminal justice careers.

Police Officer

Median Salary (May 2023): $72,280

Police officers patrol the community, respond to emergencies, and protect public safety. Patrol officers typically engage with the public, observing the community and addressing any problems. After working as a patrol officer for several years, police officers may join a special unit. In addition to working in police departments, police officers also work in sheriff’s offices.

While police officers typically do not need a bachelor’s degree, holding a criminal justice degree can help officers move into specialized roles.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Crime Scene Investigator

Median Salary (May 2023): $64,940

Crime scene investigators collect evidence at the scene of a crime, and then catalog and store that evidence to help build a criminal case against a perpetrator or perpetrators. Crime scene investigators may collect fingerprints, DNA evidence, and other documentation from a scene. They may also work in a laboratory and testify in criminal trials.

As a specialization within the broader field of forensic science, crime scene investigator positions typically require a bachelor’s degree.

Source: BLS

Criminal Investigator

Median Salary (May 2023): $91,100
Projected Job Growth: 1%

Criminal investigators are law enforcement officers who specialize in investigating crimes. They interview witnesses and suspects, collect evidence, and testify in court. This law enforcement category also includes detectives, who investigate major crimes including fraud and homicide.

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice helps detectives and criminal investigators launch and advance their careers.

Source: BLS

Paralegal

Median Salary (May 2023): $60,970

Paralegals assist attorneys by organizing legal documents, investigating legal matters, and obtaining statements used in court. They may also assist attorneys during trials, including by filing legal documents or organizing materials for discovery. Paralegals need strong legal research and writing skills.

Earning a bachelor’s in criminal justice helps paralegals strengthen their knowledge of the legal system and judicial process. Paralegals may specialize in an area such as criminal law, corporate law, or litigation.

Source: BLS

Probation Officer

Median Salary (May 2023): $61,800

Probation officers work closely with individuals on probation to help them meet the requirements of their probation and to ensure public safety. They meet with probationers to monitor their progress and help them stick with their treatment plan. Some probation officers work primarily with juvenile offenders.

Along with individuals in related roles such as parole officers and correctional treatment specialists, probation officers typically need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology, or a closely related field to qualify for the job.

Source: BLS

Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Median Salary (April 2024): Approximately $77,990

Criminal intelligence analysts evaluate relevant information to look for security threats and conduct investigations using analytical tools and databases. In government agencies and law enforcement settings, criminal intelligence analysts may try to identify high-risk targets or discern crime patterns to appropriately allocate resources. Some criminal intelligence analysts also work in forensics, where they profile individuals who have committed crimes.

Many criminal intelligence analyst jobs require a bachelor’s degree along with criminal justice experience. Strong analytical and communication skills help criminal intelligence analysts advance their careers.

Source: Payscale

Criminologist

Median Salary (April 2024): Approximately $55,480

Criminologists investigate the behavioral elements of a crime. Many criminologists work for government agencies and in law enforcement settings. Criminologists help police understand lawlessness and develop crime prevention methods.

Strong data analysis and psychological profiling skills are required to excel as a criminologist. Criminologist positions typically require a bachelor’s degree with coursework in criminology and psychology.

Source: Payscale

Fraud Investigator

Median Salary (May 2024): Approximately $68,320

Fraud investigators specialize in financial crimes. They work in law enforcement and for insurance companies identifying fraudulent activity. These investigators evaluate evidence, interview witnesses, and determine whether fraud has taken place.

Positions in fraud investigation often require a background in law enforcement, and companies often prefer to hire college graduates.

Source: Payscale

Security Manager

Median Salary (April 2024): Approximately $80,580

Security managers oversee an organization’s security needs. They implement safety plans, train employees, and manage teams of security officers. Security managers also respond to emergency incidents and coordinate with law enforcement when necessary.

Some employers prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree or experience in security. Coursework in criminal justice can prepare individuals for successful careers in private security.

Source: Payscale

Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree at East Carolina University®️

Ready to learn more about what you can do with a criminal justice degree? The online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree completion program at East Carolina University can help you reach your career goals. With its emphasis on real-world skills and hands-on learning, ECU’s criminal justice program can prepare you for a career in law enforcement, the justice system, or criminal investigation.

Students can choose a minor in criminal law or legal process and criminology to focus their studies. Students also have the option to pursue an internship or field experience to strengthen their career-ready skills. Contact ECU today to discover how earning an online criminal justice degree can lead to a new career path.