Best Jobs for Criminal Justice Students
It’s not a secret that criminal justice jobs can be demanding. They require hours of work, long shifts, and overcoming difficult situations. But when you get to the end of your shift, there is no better feeling than knowing you helped make the world just a little bit safer.
Criminal Justice Jobs are some of the most sought-after jobs in the world. Criminal justice professionals play important roles in ensuring that our society is a safe and just place to live. They help protect people from crime, investigate crimes, and punish criminals. The criminal justice system can be complex; it’s no surprise that there are so many different types of criminal justice professionals out there!
Being in law enforcement or corrections isn’t for everyone though; so before committing to this career path, it’s important to know what some of the highest-paid criminal justice jobs are.
For those who love their work and want to be compensated for it, there are many high-paying criminal justice jobs in the world. These positions can range from being a detective or bounty hunter to even being a prison warden. The pay varies depending on what type of role you take but in some cases, these roles can bring in over $200,000 annually!
The article goes on to list the top 10 highest paid criminal justice jobs in the world and provides information about each one including location, salary, education requirements, and experience needed.
What are Criminal Justice Jobs?
Law enforcement officers such as sheriffs and police are part of the criminal justice system. They make up about 13% of Criminal Justice Jobs. Other jobs in law enforcement include detectives, prosecutors, judges or magistrates, and bailiffs.
- Detectives: Detectives investigate crimes that have been committed by criminals to ensure they can be convicted. They take statements from witnesses as well as the people who are suspected of committing a crime before they present their findings to a prosecutor.
- Prosecutors: Prosecutors have three jobs in Criminal Justice Jobs. First, they try cases on behalf of defendants that may be innocent but cannot afford an attorney themselves and represent them at trial or negotiate with prosecutors for reduced charges in exchange for guilty pleas. Second, they work with police to investigate crimes and decide whether the case should go ahead or not. Third, they represent the government at criminal trials when charges are brought against a person accused of breaking a law.
- Judges: Judges hear disputes between parties and rule on them according to legal precedents set by previous decisions of higher courts. They may also preside over Criminal Justice Jobs cases or decide whether the defendant should be released on bail while their case is being tried.
Top 10 Highest Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the WorldÂ
Here are the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023:
- Lawyers: Earn $163,000
- FBI Agents : Earn $114,000
- Judges : Earn $104,000
- Private Investigators: Earn $93,000
- Forensic Psychologists : Earn $84,000
- Intelligence Analysts : Earn $83,000
- Financial Examiners: Earn $79,000
- Criminologists : Earn $74,000
- College Professor : Earn $72,000
- Security Managers : Earn $69,000
1. Lawyers: up to $163,000
Lawyers are among the highest-paid criminal justice jobs, with lawyers in large law firms earning $163,000. Criminal defense attorneys can earn up to $175,000. Top earners often work over 100 hours a week and maybe away from home for days at a time as they travel between courts on different cases around the United States.
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2. FBI Agents: up to $114,000
FBI agents are among the highest-paid criminal justice jobs. Agents may earn up to $114,000 per year. They work in a variety of fields including international terrorism, organized crime, and bank robberies.
The FBI hires agents with various backgrounds such as accounting or law enforcement experience who have also taken courses at an accredited college or universities like accounting or criminal justice.
3. Judges: up to $104,000
Lawyers and judges may be among the highest-paid criminal justice jobs. Top lawyers can earn $174,000 per year while top Federal judges can earn up to $104,000 a year.
Federal judges are appointed by presidents or other high-ranking members of government for life tenure. Judges hear appeals cases that could not have been solved by a jury.
Judges are appointed for life tenure and typically preside over civil cases or occasionally criminal matters such as drug trafficking, fraud, copyright infringement or racketeering. They work in Federal courts which can be found only at the high court of each state capital.
4. Private Investigators: up to $93,000
Private investigators may be the highest-paid criminal justice jobs. Private investigators work for attorneys and law firms to track down evidence in civil cases, or they may work on behalf of individuals who are accused of crimes and need a defense lawyer’s help.
A private investigator must have strong investigative skills, good interviewing techniques, legal knowledge about search warrants and subpoenas, and the ability to testify in court.
5. Forensic Psychologists: up to $84,000
Those in the criminal justice system who are deemed mentally unstable or at suicide risk may be referred to forensic psychologists. The job of this person is mainly to evaluate and diagnosis mental illness or impairment due to brain injury. This job is one of the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023.
Forensic psychology jobs help those who have been accused of crimes by providing psychological evidence that they could not form intent because of diminished mental capacity.
The salary for this job will range from $84,000-$128,000 depending on the level of education and experience.
6. Intelligence Analysts: up to $83,000
Intelligence analysts are responsible for gathering and analyzing information in order to present it as a clear report or assessment. Intelligence analysts use surveillance, espionage, and other techniques to gather intelligence on military, diplomatic, economic, and social activities of interest.
This is an exciting job because you get the opportunity to travel throughout the world for work by visiting different countries which you would have never gotten the chance to see before.
The salary for this job will range from $83,000-$128,000 depending on education and experience.
7. Financial Examiners: up to $79,000
Financial examiners are responsible for auditing and examining the financial records of public or private organizations. This includes reviewing accounting reports, balance sheets, investment income and bank statements in order to detect errors or fraud, as well as giving recommendations on how to improve recordkeeping practices within a company. This job is one of the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023.
The salary range is from $79,000-$105,000.
8. Criminologists: up to $74,000
Criminologists are experts in the prevention and control of crime. They study criminal behavior, victimology, law enforcement practices, and prison conditions to create a social environment that is safe from crime.
The salary range for this job can be anywhere between $74,000-$93,400 per year.
9. College Professor: up to $72,000
A professor in a college or university is an academic rank that can be assigned to someone who teaches courses and conducts research on topics within their field of expertise. This job is one of the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023.
The salary range for this job can vary from $72,000-$103,900 per year.
10. Security Managers: up to $69,000
A security guard provides safety by enforcing rules at a business or public event. While Security Managers are responsible for protecting an organization from theft, fraud, and physical damage.
The salary range for this job is $69,000-$91,800 per year.
11. Customs Officials: up to $66,000
A Customs Official is responsible for regulating the flow of people and goods into a country. They are in charge of enforcing government trade laws, collecting taxes on imports or exports, and stopping contraband from entering or leaving the country. This job is one of the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023.
The salary range for this job can vary greatly depending on where they work but typically ranges between $66,000-$137,000.
12. Police Officers: up to $65,000
Police Officers are responsible for enforcing laws and protecting citizens. They investigate crimes, patrol neighborhoods to deter crime, provide assistance at accidents or respond to calls from people in need of help. The highest paying job in this field is Police Chief with a salary up to $132,000 but officers can earn as much as $65,000 per year.
13. Corrections Managers: up to $60,000
Corrections Managers oversee inmates’ welfare and enforce rules at a correctional facility. They make sure that the institution is running smoothly, provide staff development training, and are responsible for budgeting money to meet expenses. The salary range for this job can vary greatly depending on where they work but typically ranges between $60K-$100K. This job is one of the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023.
14. Fire Investigators: up to $56,000
Fire Investigators identify the cause of fires and explosions. They work closely with police, fire departments, insurance companies, and attorneys to figure out what happened in a particular situation. This job can be dangerous at times but it comes with a salary range that starts at $56K-$70K
15. Paralegals/Legal Assistants: up to $55,000
Paralegals or legal assistants help attorneys with various aspects of a case. Their responsibilities can range from interviewing clients to managing court records and preparing documents for trial. The salary for this job ranges between $35K-$65K+ but the higher-end salaries are usually reserved for those who have experience in law school. This job is one of the Highest-Paid Criminal Justice Jobs in the World 2023.