Criminal Justice Careers and Employment Options

A Master of Criminal Justice opens up a wide variety of career paths within the criminal justice field. Quite often, individuals with a master’s degree in criminal justice who are already employed within the field are able to seek promotion to higher paying criminal justice careers and more specialized positions. Additionally, some individuals chose to acquire a master’s degree before entering the field, oftentimes allowing them to bypass entry-level positions.

Education
One field open to those with master’s degrees in criminal justice that is generally closed to those without a graduate degree is the education sector. Individuals with master’s degree often teach as adjunct professors at four year universities and may even serve as full professors at many community colleges. Additionally, some students choose to pursue a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice after completing their master’s. A doctorate can qualify an individual for tenure-track positions at four-year universities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median salary of a Postsecondary Teacher of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement was $53,640.

Federal Law Enforcement Positions
From the ATF to the FBI to the DEA, there is a diverse range of federal governmental organizations concerned with criminal justice. A Masters in Criminal Justice may help better prepare job candidates to be competitive in applying for law enforcement positions within these organizations, since they will have acquired the type of specialized knowledge required for many of these positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of an individual in a FBI management position was $89,115.

Corrections
There are a variety of criminal justice career choices within the correctional system, including positions as corrections officers, probation officers and wardens. Graduate level education can help individuals move into upper-level positions within the correctional system. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly earning of a Correctional Supervisor/Manager in 2008 was $57,380.

Investigation
A Master of Criminal Justice opens up career options in both the public and the private sector. Investigators may work for banks, security firms or for local or federal governments. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Private Detectives and Investigators in 2008 was $46,480.