The Highest-Paying Criminal
Justice Careers of 2021

Criminal justice instructors are in charge of teaching programs related to criminal justice, police administration, and corrections. For this job, you need a Master’s Degree in Criminology or a similar topic. This is a career that you can enter after years in the field. It is a good option if you enjoy teaching and working with others.

A police officer works in public safety departments in states and cities. Their job is to protect the lives of citizens and investigate crimes. This is the most common criminal justice job in the United States. According to BLS, there are around 813,000 active police officers in the country. This career can be demanding but rewarding.

An FBI agent works in government offices to protect the United States from espionage, terrorism, organized crime, cyber attacks, and other disasters. You will have a rigorous and unusual schedule that includes trips, secret conferences, and personal research. It is considered one of the most dangerous jobs related to police departments.

The FBI requires extensive training. Also, this institution has rigorous personal requirements. Applicants must present a clean criminal record, have experience in a police department, and have a bachelor’s degree. Some positions even require a master’s degree or doctoral degree.

A narcotics officer works to monitor and stop drug trafficking. Usually, these officers cooperate with other law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking groups in cities. This job requires long hours and constant exposure to danger. Some narcotics officers go undercover during their investigations.

A criminal profiler works at crime scenes alongside investigators and scientists on the case. The mission of this job is to create an image of the suspect so they are easier to bring to justice. After analyzing the case and samples, the expert creates a rough profile of the perpetrator. For this career, you need to get a degree in psychology or criminology.

Private investigators are in charge of following cases to find information and clues. These detectives can work in police departments, federal organizations, banks, insurance companies, and law firms. Some private investigators also do freelance work after getting experience at an institution.

A state trooper is a police officer who monitors and investigates crime in a state. The functions in this job are similar to other positions, and the difference is the scale of coverage. Most of the work consists of patrolling interstate highways and state lines. For this position, you need an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in a criminal justice topic.

The work of a homicide detective is one of the most important. These experts use suspect search and investigation tools to solve murders. Most detectives work with current cases, while police departments assign special agents to work on older ones. The work includes constant visits to crime scenes and cooperation with other investigative departments.

Customs inspectors are in charge of verifying that people who enter the United States comply with the law. These officials work at borders or in airports. This position requires a bachelor’s degree in a criminal justice topic. You must have experience with weapons handling, personal defense, drug detection, and more.

Parole officers are responsible for monitoring the behavior of parolees. This position requires special training, drug testing, and criminal background checks. Probation officers also conduct driving tests and enforce other benchmarks set by federal organizations. In addition, they must have a bachelor’s degree in disciplines such as criminal justice or social work.