Criminologist Salary Range

The salary of a criminologist salary is much above average, though, like most other professions, it varies heavily depending on several factors. The CareerStint article below enlists the salary range of a criminologist.

Criminology is a very important branch of sociology. In order to prevent crime, there is a crucial need to study criminal behavior and the reasons why crimes take place. The professionals who do so are referred to as criminologists. They conduct thorough research on all aspects of crime – type of crime, criminal behavior, behavior disorders of convicts, and other criminal analysis. The job may be risky and difficult – after all, it is not easy to talk to criminals and understand why they commit crimes. The job description and salary range of a criminologist are given below.

• A criminologist has to determine the reasons why people get into committing illegal activities.
• He also studies the adverse effects that crime, corruption, and illegal acts have on the society.
• He studies as many cases as possible and uses the results to formulate theories, which may be useful in preventing crimes in the future.
• He works with different agencies and tries to find out the methods of criminal rehabilitation.
• He monitors the upcoming trends in crimes.
• He develops new criminal policies and methodologies for crime prevention.
• He reviews criminal acts and formulates appropriate reports regarding the same.
• He may also visit the crime scene or decide whether to send the body for autopsy. This helps him understand the case and the nature of crime, through which he can analyze behavioral patterns.
• These professionals generally provide their services in government organizations, but can also work in private agencies.
• They work along with law enforcement agencies to contribute in the prevention of crime.
• Some criminologists may even choose to teach criminology studies in universities and law schools.

• After high school, you may enroll for a bachelor’s degree in fields, like sociology, psychology, or criminology.
• This might not fetch you a full-fledged job, but will certainly help you in gaining the position of a criminology assistant under the supervision of an expert in the field.
• After gaining some experience, you may go in for a master’s degree or may be even a Ph.D, to gather the required expertise.
• Remember, the higher your education credentials, the better your pay scale.
• Many candidates take up advanced courses in criminal justice, courtroom psychology, and human behavior as well.

• In general, criminologists are paid a median salary of USD 25,000 to USD 55,000.
• In the states, like Hawaii, Idaho, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, etc., the salary is between USD 25,000 to USD 35,000.
• State, like Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Delaware, etc., the pay varies between USD 35,000 to USD 45,000.
• Metropolitan areas, like Georgia, Connecticut, California, New York, New Jersey, etc., pay USD 45,000 to more than USD 55,000.

• Criminologists work in myriad job sectors.
• Those who are employed with the state and federal government earn very high salaries, possibly up to USD 85,000.
• Relatively lower salaries are paid to those working in teaching and counseling – possibly between USD 30,000 to USD 35,000.
• Those working in the law enforcement, juvenile centers, etc., earn between USD 40,000 to USD 55,000.
• Most of the other fields related to criminal behavior and courtroom psychology pay between USD 45,000 to USD 55,000.

• As a criminologist assistant, you may earn only around USD 20,000 or more.
• An experience of 1 to 5 years can fetch you a salary between USD 30,000 to USD 40,000.
• A 10-year experience gives you a pay packet between USD 40,000 to USD 50,000.
• More than a decade of experience may fetch you more than USD 55,000.
• An experience of more than 20 years may fetch you more than USD 75,000.

• The BLS predicts a surprisingly good job growth for this field. The estimate is around 15% for the next decade.
• Criminologists generally work in offices in regular shifts, however, they might need to travel frequently to prisons, rehabilitation centers, juvenile centers, forensic labs, etc.
• They need to keep their cool when interviewing/talking to criminals. And, they need to be extremely patient even if they do not get the answers they need.
• Those who get into the teaching or counseling field may have relatively easy hours.

All in all, the job of a criminologist is not easy, even though it sounds so. The field of sociology is quite vast, and many people work in related fields prior to embarking on the career path of a criminologist. If you believe you have the traits to become one, go ahead and take the required courses. Good luck!!