Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers earn $76,590 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $60,020 and $100,870. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also known as:
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers earn $76,590 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $60,020 and $100,870. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Above the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
The mean wage for this occupation is $87,550, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +2.0% employment change for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 1,200 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Slower than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $76,590 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | 1,470 | $60,080 | -21.6% |
| 2 | California | 1,300 | $136,240 | +77.9% |
| 3 | Texas | 1,150 | $76,580 | +0.0% |
| 4 | New York | 1,050 | $80,960 | +5.7% |
| 5 | Florida | 850 | $59,660 | -22.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Criminal Justice | 103,302 | $55,378 | 1,899 |
| 2 | Criminology | 10,609 | $55,556 | 241 |
| 3 | Public Safety | 8,130 | $57,805 | 498 |
| 4 | Homeland Security | 6,480 | $70,193 | 335 |
| 5 | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 3,147 | $56,185 | 185 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 3 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 5 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 91 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| 6 | University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL | 90 | $4,815 | $71,588 |
Once you've sized up Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
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The data on Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
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