Career Options

Careers for Criminal Justice Majors

Victims Advocate
Fraud Investigator
Paralegal
Police Officer
Criminalist
Police Dispatcher
Federal Agent
Security Manager/Private Security
Loss Prevention
Prosecutor/Defense Attorney
Judge
Detective
Parole/Probation Officer

5 Surprising Career Paths for a Criminal Justice Major

Maybe “criminal justice” makes you think only of lawyers, judges, and police offers. If so, you might be surprised at other career paths available to criminal justice majors.

Average Salary ¹

The salary earned by a criminal justice major will vary depending upon the career path selected.

Police Officers (median income, U.S.): $56,980
Probation Officers and Correctional Specialists: $48,190
Private Detectives and Investigators: $45,740
Substance Abuse Counselors: $38,520
Paralegals: $46,990
Victims Advocate: $32,337

Job Titles of People with Criminal Justice Degrees

Police Officer Trainee
Deputy Sheriff Trainee
Public Safety Dispatcher
Victims Services Coordinator
Protection Specialist (Loss Prevention)
Deputy Probation Officer I
Forensic Analyst
Police Records Clerk
Correctional Officer
Investigator
Court Services Assistant

Note: This information is current for the 2023-24 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.

Footnotes

Salary information is provided for general reference only. APU does not guarantee the accuracy of the figures listed, and cannot predict or promise a specific salary for any graduate. For the most current salary estimates, please visit payscale.com. ↵