Online Criminal Justice—What’s the job outlook?
Opportunties for jobs can be found in local, state, and federal law enforcement, corrections, and security fields. Examples include police officer, deputy sheriff, county dentention officer, state trooper, intensive probation/parol survelliance officer, correctional officer, and loss prevention specialist. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median annual earnings for a probation officer and/or correctional treatment specialist were $39,600 in 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,500 and $52,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $66,660.
The top 10 percent of private detectives and investigators earned near $58,470 annually. According to the DOL, “Paralegals and legal assistants held over 224,000 jobs in 2004, and private law firms employed 7 out of 10 paralegals and legal assistants; most of the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government. Within the federal government, the U.S. Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Social Security Administration of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A small number of paralegals own their own businesses and work as freelance legal assistants, contracting their services to attorneys or corporate legal departments.”
Median annual earnings for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in 2004 were $45,210, with the highest 10 percent bringing in $68,880 for the year.
Police and detective supervisors held their own with the top 10 percent bringing home near $96,950.
Median annual income for detectives and criminal investigators was between $40,690 and $72,280. The top 10 percent earned more than $86,010.
These are just a few examples of what you can earn in the enormous Criminal Justice field. For more information on wages, visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.
The Criminal Justice field has many opportunties; below are just a few more:
Airport Security Officer, Animal Treatment Investigator, Bailiff, Body Guard, Border Patrol Agent, CIA Agent, Child Support Agency Worker, Community Service Coordinator, Compliance Manager, Corrections Officer ,Court Clerk, Customs Agent, Deportation Officer, Deputy Marshall, Discrimination Investigator, Drug Enforcement Agent, Employment Agency Recruiter, Environmental Conservation Officer, Fish & Game Warden, Foreign Service Officer, Housing/Tenant Representative, Industrial Security Specialist, Juvenile Court Counselor, Law Clerk, Litigation Manager, Loss Prevention Specialist, Military Officer, Naval Investigator, Non-profit Organization Advocate, Paralegal, Park Ranger, Police Officer, Postal Service Investigator, Pre-trial Services Officer, Private Security Officer, Probation & Parole Officer, Public Safety Officer, SBI Agent, Secret Service Agent, Sheriff, Social Worker, Teacher, U.S. Customs Agent, U.S. Marshall,Victim Services Specialist , and Youth Advocate.