Best Criminal Justice Jobs for Entry-Levels

A degree in criminal justice offers the great prospect of serving society. For students, especially new graduates, it’s essential to figure out what you really want to do for your life’s work after graduation. It helps if you ask yourself questions like  “What can I do with a criminal justice degree? Is getting a job with a criminal justice degree difficult? What type of entry-level jobs and internships are available? Most people go for a police department job with this degree, right? Why don’t I aim for private sector jobs?” To answer these questions and more, GradSiren did a little research and come up with the best possible criminal justice jobs.

The criminal justice graduate’s main skill is critical thinking. Their finely honed analytical skills offer great career opportunities in criminology as well as the criminal justice system. Criminal investigators, private investigator, and probation officers are a few choices, but we’ve uncovered even more.

Entry Level Criminal Justice Jobs

With just a bachelor’s degree, a wide range of criminal justice jobs are available in the United States. You can choose the most suitable position based on your interests, talents, wages and more and do some additional investigation.

• Forensic Scientist
• Correctional Officer
• FBI Agent
• Immigration and Customs
• Fraud Analyst

Forensic Scientist

A forensic scientist or forensic science technician collects evidence from a crime scene where murder has been committed. They are responsible for Identifying, collecting, and handling the potential evidence in the crime location and analyzing them in laboratories. This includes fingerprints, footprints, DNA sample collections, hair, nails, blood spatter patterns, and more. Their main work areas are in hospitals, crime labs, and law enforcement agencies, and they often work with a team of special agents and forensic psychologists as well as police officers.

Forensic scientists play crucial roles in catching a criminal. The annual wages are good for the entry-level forensic science technician up to senior level. The salaries start around $33,305 and rise to $97,286. The employment opportunities are expected to grow 16.9% for these positions. Most report that they lead a satisfied life compared to other fields. Around 15,000 Forensic Scientist jobs are available, and you can start your career with a simple search.

Correctional Officer

The correctional officer is responsible for supervising convicted criminals and suspects in a crime. Their work area is usually a correctional facility—a prison or jail—and they implement and enforce the rules and regulations inside the prison. They are also responsible for providing security and ensuring the safety of inmates.

Correctional officers can advance to sergeant or supervisor, and they enforce the rules through effective communication and advanced consents. Skills such as effective communication, decision making, and negotiation are ideal for this job along with physical strength and fitness.

A correctional officer’s annual wages start at about $24,755 and can increase to around $56,630. Career opportunities are expected to grow 5% over the upcoming 10 years. Find entry-level correction officer careers here.

FBI Agent

In the US, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the major investigative department in the judicial branch of the government. The FBI performs defensive work, not offensive, in their criminal investigations and while enforcing federal laws.

Their main role is investigating the scene of crimes. Their work involves background checks, arresting and interviewing victims, surveillance, and other dangerous tasks. They investigate white collar crime as well as illegal activities like drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, airplane hijacking, and more.

The FBI agent plays one of the principal roles in criminal justice in the US. The salary is high, and advancement means an entry-level FBI agent can move up to non-supervisory positions fairly quickly. Employment opportunities are projected to grow by 10% over the next 10 years.

Considering a career as an FBI agent? You can find FBI jobs in over 200 investigating departments. Former FBI agents can also find jobs in private sectors if they wish. Follow here for job opportunities which involve corporations, government contractors, and more.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are responsible for preventing illegal immigration and unlawful circulation of products and goods. They work in a variety of situations as well as their field office and customs or immigration offices.

ICE agents participate in multiple issues like child exploitation, drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons smuggling, and human trafficking. Typically, ICE agents participate in all types of investigations unless they specialize in one or more.

According to statistics, ICE agents are in demand. The work can be stressful and involve frequent travel. But many feel satisfied personally and financially with their chosen careers.

The median salary for an ICE agent is $77,210 based on their location and level of experience. The employment opportunities are projected to grow somewhat slowly. The private sector does not offer similar employment opportunities, but you can find related jobs here.

Fraud Analyst

The fraud analyst investigates and identifies potential or suspected fraud. A fraud analyst performs multiple tasks involving both criminal and civil charges. Their main responsibility is proving crimes such as forgery or stealing in customer accounts. They also investigate insurance fraud, credit card fraud, or any fraudulent banking transactions. Fraud investigators also interview individual victims, and the investigation includes complainants, employers, friends and family, and witnesses.

Fraud investigator positions are projected to grow 10% over the next 10 years. The average salary for entry-level fraud analyst is $33,819, and a senior-level fraud investigator’s earnings are around $92,627. Career opportunities involve various fields and companies, and you can find entry-level fraud analyst jobs by following this link.

By considering these criminal justice jobs, you can understand the career opportunities with a criminal justice degree. Are these jobs helpful to your career path? Or would you rather explore the jobs and requirements for police officers and probation officers?

You can find these and similar jobs at GradSiren, the best job search portal for entry-level criminal justice jobs and criminology internships. Want to prepare a resume to apply for a summer job? Follow this article and prepare a customized resume.