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This section of our site offers various career resources for aspiring criminal justice students and law enforcement professionals including career profiles, employment statistics, education programs, salary figures and employment projections. Aside from a few ads, the resources on this page are non-commercial in nature. If you have any other criminal justice career resources you think would be of benefit to our visitors please let use know.
To learn more about advancing your career in criminal justice and law enforcement select a topic below.
To learn more about advancing your career in criminal justice and law enforcement select a topic below.
Criminal Justice Careers by Field
The terms criminal justice and criminology are often used interchangeably, but the two fields are different. Criminology explores the anatomy of crime and criminal behavior, including its causes, consequences and costs. Criminal justice, refers specifically to the societal system(s) established to deal with crime, with focus on the detection of crime, detaining of criminals, and criminal prosecution and punishment. There are three main components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the courts and corrections. Students pursuing career opportunities in criminal justice will have the opportunity to study the different components of criminal justice system. Students pursuing a career as criminologist, will study the backgrounds, psychology, behavioral patterns and sociological trends of criminals. While both fields are different, criminologists and criminal justice professionals work together to fight the criminal element.
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice are diverse career fields--providing hundreds of exciting job opportunities both domestic and abroad. The first step to launching a successful career in law enforcement is to explore the different career options available. Below you can explore a large variety of criminal justice jobs organized by category.
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice are diverse career fields--providing hundreds of exciting job opportunities both domestic and abroad. The first step to launching a successful career in law enforcement is to explore the different career options available. Below you can explore a large variety of criminal justice jobs organized by category.
Criminology
CriminologyCriminology is the study of the anatomy of a crime, specifically its causes, consequences and costs.
Law Enforcement
- Accounting Forensics
- ATF Agent
- ATF Investigator
- ATF Technician/Professional
- Border Patrol Agent
- CIA Agent
- Coast Guard
- Compliance Officer
- Computer Forensics
- Counter Terrorism
- Crime Laboratory Analyst
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Customs Agent
- DEA Agent
- Deportation Officer (DO)
- Diplomatic Security
- Emergency Management Director
- ERO Agent
- FBI Agent
- Federal Air Marshal
- Federal Protective Service
- Fish & Game Warden
- Forensic Engineer
- Forensic Odontologist
- Forensic Science
- Forensic Science Technician
- Forensic Psychology
- Fraud Investigator
- Homeland Security
- HSI Special Agent
- Immigration Customs (ICE) Agent
- Information Security
- INS Agent
- IRS Special Agent
- K9 Officer
- NSA Police Officer
- Private Security
- Police Detective
- Police Officer
- Private Investigator
- Psychological Profiler
- Secret Service Agent
- Sheriff
- Surveillance Officer
- TSA Screener
- U.S. Marshal
Law EnforcementLaw enforcement officers are our front line of defense against the criminal element in society. They focus on crime prevention, investigation of crimes and apprehending suspected criminals.
Courts
Courts & Judicial SystemThe primary purpose of the courts is to determine the guilt or innocence of suspected criminals and pass sentencing.
Corrections
Corrections & RehabilitationThe U.S. corrections system is responsible for enforcing punishments and carrying out sentencing as mandated by the courts. The corrections system is made up of incarceration, probation and parole.
Employment Statistics
Employment statistics updated with the latest data as of 2019.
Protective services occupations include law enforcement and criminal justice occupations such as Police and Detectives, Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Correctional Officers, Jailers, Sheriffs Security Guards, Private Detectives and Investigators, and various other protective service professionals.
The industries that employ the largest number of law enforcement, criminal justice and protective service professionals in 2019 include those listed in the following table.
The map below shows the number of protective service professionals by state throughout the United States. Protective service occupations include both law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.
The states that employ the largest number of protective service and law enforcement professionals in 2019 are listed in the table below.
The location quotient is the ratio of the concentration of protective services professionals employed in a given state to the national average concentration. A location quotient that is less than one indicates the occupation has a greater share of employment than average.
The map below shows the location quotient for protective service service occupations by state as of 2019.
The states that have the highest location quotient and concentration of protective services jobs in 2019 are listed in the following table.
Protective services occupations include law enforcement and criminal justice occupations such as Police and Detectives, Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Correctional Officers, Jailers, Sheriffs Security Guards, Private Detectives and Investigators, and various other protective service professionals.
The industries that employ the largest number of law enforcement, criminal justice and protective service professionals in 2019 include those listed in the following table.
| Industry | Employment | % of Industry Employment | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| Local Government | 1,393,080 | 25.6% | $28 | $58,640 |
| Investigative and Security Services | 720,630 | 79.1% | $15 | $30,250 |
| State Government | 386,600 | 17.7% | $27 | $55,390 |
| Federal Government | 142,100 | 7.0% | $33 | $68,280 |
| Elementary and Secondary Education Institutions | 95,220 | 1.1% | $16 | $32,410 |
The states that employ the largest number of protective service and law enforcement professionals in 2019 are listed in the table below.
| State | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| California | 379,800 | .95 | $28 | $58,900 |
| New York | 299,900 | 1.36 | $25 | $52,500 |
| Texas | 297,100 | 1.04 | $22 | $45,200 |
| Florida | 235,200 | 1.17 | $20 | $41,500 |
| Illinois | 149,900 | 1.06 | $25 | $52,100 |
The map below shows the location quotient for protective service service occupations by state as of 2019.
The states that have the highest location quotient and concentration of protective services jobs in 2019 are listed in the following table.
| State | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| District of Columbia | 27,500 | 1.63 | $30 | $62,500 |
| New York | 299,900 | 1.36 | $25 | $52,500 |
| New Mexico | 26,100 | 1.36 | $20 | $42,000 |
| Hawaii | 20,200 | 1.34 | $30 | $62,000 |
| Nevada | 41,800 | 1.34 | $21 | $44,000 |
Salary and Wage Data
Salary and wages for protective service and law enforcement professionals is influenced by several factors: level of education, industry, specialty and location. All things being equal, location is one of the biggest factors influencing salary and wage level for law enforcement workers. For example, a corrections office working in California on average can expect to make about $60,000 a year. That same worker, handling the same responsibility, in Oklahoma will make about $35,000 a year. When considering where you want to work as a law enforcement professional, average compensation level for each state is something you'll want to consider.
The table below shows the national percentile wage estimates in 2019 for protective service and law enforcement professionals in the United States.
The map below shows the annual mean wage of protective service and law enforcement professionals across the United States for 2019. (Note: the mean wage is the middle wage - 50% of workers make less then the mean wage while 50% make more.)
The table below shows the states that offer the highest wage and compensation level for protective service and law enforcement professionals.
The table below shows the top metropolitan areas in the United States offering highest wage and compensation level for protective service and law enforcement professionals in 2019. Again, wage level shown below is the Median - about 50% of professionals make less than the median wage, while 50% make more.
The table below shows the nonmetropolitan areas with the highest pay in 2018 for protective service and law enforcement professionals.
The table below shows the top metropolitan areas in the United States offering highest wage and compensation level for protective service and law enforcement professionals in 2013. Again, wage level shown below is the median.
The table below shows the nonmetropolitan areas with the highest pay in 2013 for protective service and law enforcement professionals.
The table below shows the national percentile wage estimates in 2019 for protective service and law enforcement professionals in the United States.
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $10.13 | $12.84 | $19.01 | $29.37 | $40.61 |
| Annual Wage | $21,070 | $26,700 | $39,550 | $61,080 | $84,470 |
The table below shows the states that offer the highest wage and compensation level for protective service and law enforcement professionals.
| State | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| District of Columbia | 27,500 | 1.63 | $30.07 | $62,500 |
| Hawaii | 20,200 | 1.34 | $29.80 | $62,000 |
| Alaska | 7,800 | 1.03 | $28.57 | $59,400 |
| California | 379,800 | .95 | $28.30 | $58,900 |
| Washington | 65,700 | .86 | $27.84 | $57,900 |
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| Madera, CA | 1,770 | 1.69 | $36.94 | $76,820 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 3,520 | 1.08 | $36.71 | $76,350 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 3,580 | 3.56 | $36.55 | $76,020 |
| San Rafael, CA Metro | 2,740 | 1.00 | $34.70 | $72,180 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 3,330 | 1.19 | $32.22 | $67,010 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1,690 | 0.83 | $32.11 | $66,790 |
| El Centro, CA | 3,430 | 2.38 | $32.08 | $66,730 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 10,020 | 1.38 | $31.54 | $65,610 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 3,050 | 2.17 | $31.42 | $65,350 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 1,810 | 0.78 | $31.21 | $64,920 |
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 870 | 2.27 | $32.64 | $67,880 |
| Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 3,170 | 2.05 | $32.00 | $66,550 |
| Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 2,830 | 2.78 | $31.41 | $65,330 |
| North Valley Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 610 | 0.82 | $31.32 | $65,150 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 3,280 | 1.32 | $30.03 | $62,470 |
The table below shows the top metropolitan areas in the United States offering highest wage and compensation level for protective service and law enforcement professionals in 2013. Again, wage level shown below is the median.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 3,780 | 4.11 | $34.50 | $71,700 |
| El Centro, CA | 3,840 | 3.01 | $32 | $66,500 |
| Salinas, CA | 4,300 | 1.12 | $31.50 | $65,500 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 2,960 | .99 | $31.45 | $65,400 |
| Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ | 2,820 | 1.97 | $31.20 | $64,900 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 2,940 | 1.17 | $30.70 | $63,880 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 9,290 | 1.31 | $29.70 | $61,770 |
| Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA NECTA Division | 2,760 | 1.25 | $29.65 | $61,700 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1,600 | .85 | $29.65 | $61,700 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 24,760 | .96 | $29.40 | $61,150 |
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Mean annual wage |
| Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 3,480 | 2.32 | $31.30 | $65,000 |
| Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 2,580 | 2.78 | $30.20 | $62,800 |
| Southwestern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 1,240 | 1.90 | $29.35 | $61,100 |
| Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 2,020 | 1.11 | $28.70 | $59,700 |
| Southeast Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 4,720 | 3.25 | $28.20 | $58,700 |
Job Outlook
Employment opportunities for criminal justice and law enforcement professionals are expected to grow as fast as the average for all U.S. occupations over the next decade. Jobs will be most plentiful for those professionals who hold a master's degree in a discipline with direct industry application. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies will be looking for individuals with advanced skills and training in computer science, forensics, psychology, cybercrimes, accounting, finance and foreign languages. Earning a master's or PhD will set job seekers apart from other candidates. Most entry-level positions will require a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution.
Between 2016 and 2026 job growth will average roughly 5% per year for all protect service, law enforcement and criminal justice occupations. Opportunities will be most plentiful police and police detectives, private investigators and private security professionals. Federal agencies, including the FBI, CIA and DEA, will continue to seek new recruits but competition for career positions with these agencies will be intense. To qualify for top positions applicants must have specialized training and unique skills that set them apart from the competition.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the job growth for the following law enforcement careers between 2016 and 2026.
Between 2016 and 2026 job growth will average roughly 5% per year for all protect service, law enforcement and criminal justice occupations. Opportunities will be most plentiful police and police detectives, private investigators and private security professionals. Federal agencies, including the FBI, CIA and DEA, will continue to seek new recruits but competition for career positions with these agencies will be intense. To qualify for top positions applicants must have specialized training and unique skills that set them apart from the competition.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the job growth for the following law enforcement careers between 2016 and 2026.
| Fire Inspectors | 10% |
| Firefighters | 7% |
| Police and Detectives | 7% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | -8% |
| Bailiffs | -2% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 11% |
| Security Guards | 6% |
| Forensic Scientist/Science Technician | 17% |
| Lawyer | 8% |
| Court Reporter | 3% |
| Correctional Treatment Specialist | 6% |
| Paralegal/Legal Assistant | 15% |
| Information Security Analyst | 28% |
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