Does Crime Pay? And...How Much?

by Heidi Anspaugh

A look into top Criminal Justice professions and how much you can expect to make pursing these as a career.

Criminal justice is the system of law enforcement, legislation, practices, and organizations used by the government to control crime and uphold civilian laws. This description covers a wide range of careers, including police officer, and member of the CSI, FBI, CIA, and SWAT teams. Criminal justice is also distinct from the study of criminology, which encompasses the study of crime as a social phenomenon.

Police officer is probably the most common career in criminal justice and refers to a government employee whose duties are to enforce the law, maintain order, preserve peace, and protect lives and property. Entry-level police officer positions require only a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Candidates must also pass physical fitness and psychological tests, as well as undergo an extensive background check. Higher education, at least a year or two of college, is increasingly becoming more of a necessity for advancement. A bachelor's or associate's degree in criminal justice or law enforcement is a requirement for supervisory or detective positions.

The current salary range for police officers and sheriffs is between $34,410 and $56,360 a year. For higher level police and detective supervisors, the salary range is between $49,370 and $80,510 a year. The state paying the highest entry-level salary for a state police officer is California, with an annual salary of around $42,000. New Jersey and Pennsylvania come in at a close second and third, with starting salaries at around $39,000.


CSI (Crime Scene Investigators) comb crime scenes for physical evidence in order to determine who committed the crime and how. Forensic evidence is crucial in determining guilt or innocence. Police officers often make a career move to CSI after taking interdepartmental courses in forensic investigation. For civilians, it is recommended to get a bachelor's degree in a related field (such as criminal justice or chemistry), and then contacting the local police department to ask about other requirements for CSI professionals. It is also common to get further certification in various CSI specializations, such as DNA analysis or computer forensics. Educated CSI professionals have larger earning potential. A CSI professional will be paid up to $30.00 more per hour if they have a master's degree or Ph.D.

An entry-level investigator can find high-paying entry-level jobs, although the beginning hourly pay can range from $12 to $30/hour. But the U.S. Department of Labor listed "forensic science technicians" as one of the fastest growing occupations in 2004, with a mean hourly wage of $23.14 and a mean annual salary of $48,130 (annual wages at the 10 percentile were $27,530 and the 90 percentile were $73,100). One of the highest annual salaries is in Phoenix, AZ, where forensic science technicians earn an average of $63,150, with Washington, D.C. a close second at $54,730.

Another popular career path in law enforcement is working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This is a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice that specializes in criminal investigation, particularly into terrorist and foreign intelligence threats. They also strive to enforce the criminal laws of the United States and protect civil rights. To become an FBI Special Agent, one must first have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university, three years of professional work experience, and be available for work anywhere in the FBI's jurisdiction. All applicants must also qualify under one of these five Special Agent Entry Programs: accounting, computer science, language, law, or diversified.

Salaries for FBI agents vary according to level of experience. An agent in the FBI Academy training program earns about $43,000 a year, while entry-level agents earn about $61,000 to $70,000 per year. Executive positions can range from $75,000 to more than $90,000 a year. Miami, FL currently pays the highest median annual salary for FBI agents at $82,696 per year. The second highest are Boston, MA ($75,636) and Washington, DC ($65,551).


There are also many available career opportunities with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), whose principal duty is to collect and evaluate intelligence related to national security. This includes information about foreign governments, corporations, groups and individuals. The CIA also serves as the principal intelligence advisor to the President of the United States. CIA agents generally acquire data, but don't have law enforcement authority. Education requirements include a minimum of a bachelor's degree, although a master's degree and a 3.0 GPA are recommended. A degree in one of these fields is suitable: international relations, economics, physical science, and nuclear, biological, or chemical engineering. It is also preferable to have excellent writing skills and to be fluent in at least one foreign language.

Once accepted into the Clandestine Service Trainee (CST) Program, applicants will be required to live in Washington, DC for two years. One year of the program will involve working as an Operations Desk Officer, and the next year will involve working as a Collection Management Officer. The salary during the training period is $47,245 - $64,222 per year. After the training period, steady advancement is possible, along with higher salaries. For example, a Paramilitary Operations Officer earns $52,180 - $72,421 annually. Most of these higher-paying jobs are located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

One of the more dangerous criminal justice careers is working as a member of the S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) team. This is a specialized paramilitary unit in many American police departments trained to perform dangerous operations. Typical job duties include serving high-risk arrest warrants, hostage rescue, deterring terrorist attacks, and subduing heavily-armed criminals. SWAT officers are usually already police officers who have been specially selected after serving a minimum tenure. Educational requirements are therefore the same as the ones for police officers; usually a high school diploma and two years of college. SWAT applicants must undergo rigorous training, and pass stringent physical agility, written, oral, and psychological testing to ensure they are physically and psychologically fit enough to endure the high stress of tactical operations.

Salaries for SWAT team members are usually similar to those of uniformed officers, and they do not receive any compensation over and above their normal salaries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2004, police officers had an average annual income of $45,210. The salary range is anywhere from $32,000 to $55,000 per year. This can vary depending upon the geographical location and tax bases. Metropolitan areas typically pay more because the hazards are also greater.

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Heidi Anspaugh is a writer/editor from the Bay Area who has been writing exclusively for the Internet for the past 9 years. She has written content for many different types of websites, including search directories, technology news sites, music magazines, retail companies, consumer-facing lead generation sites, business resources, and software products.