Entry Level Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
If you’re looking for an entry-level job in criminal justice, you can find many positions available. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), criminal justice was one of the fastest growing professions in the country from 2014 to 2024 with a projected growth rate of 29%. In fact, many industries are hiring people with criminal justice degrees.
Here are some of the most common entry-level jobs for criminal justice majors:
-Police officer: While police officers may not need a bachelor’s degree, they do need to pass a physical exam and psychological evaluation, as well as complete their academy training.
-Security guard: Security guards are often hired by companies or property owners to keep their properties safe at night and during off hours when there aren’t any employees on site. These jobs usually require some training at an academy or on-site training program.
-Paralegal: Paralegals assist attorneys with legal research, organize evidence and paperwork for court cases, interview clients and witnesses, negotiate settlements between parties involved in cases (like divorces or child custody cases), prepare legal documents such as motions and briefs that are filed with courts and other entities related
Entry Level Jobs Criminal Justice Majors
A bachelor’s in criminal justice is a course of study that focuses on real-world applications and is therefore in demand by employers in both the public and private sectors. The skills you will likely develop as a criminal justice major are
Critical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Foundational Psychology Education
Foundational Legal Education
Ethical Leadership
Interpersonal Communication
Adaptability
Conducting and Interpreting Research
Where to Begin Your Career with a Criminal Justice Degree
As if choosing the degree weren’t hard enough, you’re eventually going to have to choose a career path which holds its own circus of questions. A criminal justice degree is a unique, lucrative degree that will open hundreds of doors for you.
Take time and think about your experiences. What did you enjoy most about your studies? What bridges the divide between who you are as a person and who you are a student? If you had the chance to do an internship, what did you value about it? Who did you meet?
Browsing open roles on Glassdoor will help you hone in on what jobs are out there, what companies or agencies are hiring and what is required for entry-level work. For example, if you want to work close to where you live or you hope to return to the town where you grew up, a career in law enforcement has the advantage of being available almost everywhere. However, if you like to travel or don’t mind a commute, working in forensics, private security or in social services may be right for you.
Start developing a sense of what you want- and what you don’t want. Look at your network. See who among your contacts might have access to companies or roles that fit your “passion point.” Use your honed study skills to become an expert of the search. Try to analyze the market and find a way to turn yourself into a category expert that will easily differentiate yourself from all other candidates seeking a position in your chosen category.
Become a student of your quest to find fit, and invite input starting with your own sense of what you want and then expanding out to your network.
Job Search Tips for Criminal Justice Majors
Aside from networking, one of the key ways to score a job in criminal justice is to start applying while ensuring you have the right qualifications. To teach criminal justice may require a Juris Doctor (JD), or Master’s degree in criminal justice, corrections, criminology, or Master’s degree in acceptable subfield and three to five years’ relevant work experience in the criminal justice field. However, a social worker role may require a Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or psychology.
So, when you read a posting, be sure to read it carefully for these key takeaways:
Check for keywords. You know by now to use keywords on your resume. A job description is the place to find the right keywords to use, as well as give you an idea of what the employer will look for in the right candidate.
How does the employer want you to respond? Make sure you’ve found out the company’s preferred method of communication. Don’t plan to email a resume if the organization wants you to apply through its online job portal.
Don’t get too caught up in jargon. Words and phrases such as passion, commitment, team player, responsibility, dynamic interpersonal skills, ability to work independently, detail oriented, and analytical skills are oftentimes just buzzwords that recruiters and managers use in every job description.
Check out professional societies and organizations, noting who you know among the membership. Ask your professors and peers about industry associations. See if you can attend a chapter event or a meeting as a guest. Then aim to make connections.
In the same way, see what your university offers in terms of alumni connections. This can be a rich resource for networking. Be open to mentorship, informational interviews and internship opportunities. All stand to help you learn more about what you want and what options are available to you.
Update your Glassdoor profile, and research companies and open positions. Cultivate an informed sense of what positions and companies you’re targeting. This way, when you get the chance to talk with contacts in your network, you can ask specific questions.
Continuing Education and Certifications
As mentioned, many roles in criminal justice require additional training, certifications and advanced degrees. Don’t let these intimidate you, instead think of them as ways to further your knowledge, develop expertise in an area and hone your skills.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% increase in paralegal and legal assistant jobs by 2020. This has become an increasingly popular career path for criminal justice majors who want to avoid the time and expense of attending law school. According to Glassdoor, the median base pay for a paralegal is $50,676 and has grown by 2.8% YOY, while an attorney’s base pay has gone down by 3.0%.
If the forensics team on CSI or Law & Order is more your career dream, then take extensive coursework in the sciences, particularly biology, chemistry and physics. If you didn’t take advantage of the lab courses in undergrad, consider a Masters in Criminology or Biology. Jobs in the field of forensics include:
Ballistics specialist
Blood spatter analyst
Crime scene investigator
Criminologist
DNA analyst
Fiber technologist
Forensic odontologist
Homicide detective
Psychological profiler
Most Common Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
As you might expect from such a varied major, the jobs available to criminal justice majors run the gamut and have the ability to earn you in the high six-figures. Here are the most common jobs for criminal justice majors:
Police Officer
Court Reporter
Forensic Technician
Private Investigator
Corrections Officer
Psychological Profiler
Entry-Level Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
Kick-off your career in criminal justice with an entry-level job where you can learn the ropes, make great connections and build new skills. Here are the popular entry-level jobs:
Paralegal
Child Protective Services Worker
Parole Officer
Nonprofit Organization Advocate
Police Officer
Internships for Criminal Justice Majors
In college? There are a variety of internship opportunities to gain experience in correctional facilities, human rights organizations, local universities and more.
CIA Internships
FBI Internships
ACLU Internships
Police Department Internship
Social Work Internship
Top Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
Law Enforcement Officer
Average Base Pay: 38,000
Number of Open Jobs: 7,500
Description: Law enforcement officers must be constituted by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Law enforcement officers can be police officers, security guards, public safety officials and more. Success in law enforcement does not all look the same. However, it does follow several skills such as attention to detail, holistic knowledge of the law, independence and precise judgment.
Probation Officer
Average Base Pay: $41,000
Number of Open Jobs: 2,300
Description: This position is a versatile one. As a probation officer, along with your office, you will visit paroled offenders and courtrooms. You will supervise various caseloads, maintain confidentiality and act with integrity at all times.
Lawyer
Average Base Pay: $117,000
Number of Open Jobs: 11,000
Description: Lawyers can fill a plethora of positions. Be it general counsel or corporate attorney, this career path offers excitement and day-to-day diversity. Obviously, to practice law, you must have a law degree and need to have passed the relevant Bar exam for your state. Legal counsel and attorneys must act with discretion and ethics, doing their best to represent and advise clients well. In this capacity, you will work with clients, judges, other legal professionals and more.
FBI Analyst
Average Base Pay: $68,000
Number of Open Jobs: 400
Description: This is a highly sensitive role, requiring the utmost discretion and confidentiality. Analysts will aggregate, analyze and interpret data to provide leadership support and advice. This role oversees and prioritizes the enhancement of systems to better operate as a bureau.
Forensic Specialist
Average Base Pay: $51,000
Number of Open Jobs: 230
Description: Dexter fans: In the criminal justice field, forensic specialists work alongside crime scene detectives to determine the scientific occurrences behind crimes. Forensic scientists can be ballistic specialists, blood spatter analysts, fiber technologists, DNA analysts and more.
Security Guard
Average Base Pay: $29,000
Number of Open Jobs: 22,500
Description: Security guards are hired by privately-owned businesses to patrol and protect the space and people. Along with protection, security guards manage safety risks such as unauthorized visitors or property damage.
Social Services Coordinators
Average Base Pay: $40,500
Number of Open Jobs: 5,500
Description: In this role, you are responsible for the evaluation and assessment of residents’ needs and concerns. You must work with other departments to ensure clients are physically, psychologically and emotionally taken care of.
Social Worker
Average Base Pay: $54,000
Number of Open Jobs: 29,500
Description: Social workers plan and provide supportive services to families and individuals in need. They are responsible for identifying and addressing patient needs through direct service and consultation with outside parties.
Special Agent
Average Base Pay: $89,000
Number of Open Jobs: 120
Description: Special agents are required to operate with honesty and integrity. After completing a series of background tests, fitness tests and medical exam, agents work long weeks and participate in arrests, executing search warrants, raids and more.
Private Investigator
Average Base Pay: $54,000
Number of Open Jobs: 1,200
Description: Put your problem-solving and investigative skills to the test as a private investigator. You will investigate issues, claims and people to understand and provide insight into situations. You should have strong communication skills to relay information and comprehensively report your findings. This career will keep you on your toes in new work environments, traveling assignments and field work.
