What Can You Do with a Major In Criminology? What are Career Options and Salaries?
You’re thinking about your future and interested in studying criminology. You like the idea of learning about law, the criminal justice system, and the causes and consequences of crime. You also like the idea of serving the community and helping to make it a better place.
If you major in criminology, what can you do with it? What type of jobs can you find and what kind of salaries do those jobs pay?
The good news is that criminology is a great major. One that prepares you for a variety of jobs that are in demand.
Career Outcomes for Criminology Majors
Criminology is a broad area of study that covers not only the three main areas of the criminal justice system (police, courts and corrections) but also encompasses at-risk youth, juvenile delinquency, substance use disorders, legal studies, international criminology and victimology.
When students graduate Stonehill with a B.A. in Criminology, they are equipped to enter a range of professions, agencies, graduate schools and service opportunities.
Professions for Criminology Majors
Stonehill criminology majors have gone on to begin work in a variety of careers.
- Associate Probation Officer
- Attorney
- Caseworker
- Chief of Staff
- Claims Manager
- Corporate Security Investigator
- Correctional Officer
- Correctional Counselor
- Emergency Services Dispatcher
- Family Service Provider
- Infantry Officer
- Insurance Agent
- Intelligence Analyst
- Lead Test Investigator
- Outside Claims Adjuster
- Paralegal
- Police Dispatcher
- Police Officer
- Private Investigator
- Program Coordinator
- Research Assistant
- Security Professional
- Social Worker
- Special Agent
- State Trooper
- Substance Use Prevention Specialist
- Therapeutic Youth Support
- U.S. Customs Inspector
- U.S. Border Patrol Agent
- Victim Witness Advocate
Stonehill Criminology Majors Employers
After graduation, Stonehill criminology majors have gone on to work for local, regional and national employers.
- Brockton Area Opioid Abuse Prevention Coalition
- City Year Boston
- Claims Bureau USA
- Counseling and Psychotherapy Center
- Department of Homeland Security
- Dunkin’ Brands
- High Point Treatment Center
- Home for Little Wanderers
- INTERPOL
- Learn to Cope
- Massachusetts Department of Correction
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
- Massachusetts General Court
- Massachusetts State Police
- NCIS
- New Hampshire State Police
- Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office
- Point72 Asset Management
- Social Security Administration
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Navy
- Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police
When I graduated, I did not worry about how I was going to start my career because I feel like all the experiences I’d gained prepared me for the field of law enforcement.
Salaries and Outlooks
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. It measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes and productivity in the U.S. economy. It is a great resource for understanding what a job pays as well as how large or small the demand will be in the future for that job.
Here is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say about some – but certainly not all – of the positions that criminology majors go into:
| Position | Median Salary as of May 2020 | Job Outlook/Growth 2020-2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Detectives | $67,290 | 7% (Faster than average) |
| Probation Officers | $55,690 | 4% (Average) |
| Information Security Analysts | $103,590 | 33% (Much faster than average) |
| Fire Inspectors | $62,120 | 11% (Much faster than average) |
| Fish and Game Warden | $58,040 | Depends on region |
| Private Detective | $53,320 | 13% (Faster than average) |
| Claims Adjuster | $68,130 | -3% (Decline) |
| Social Workers | $51,760 | 12% (Faster than average) |
| Insurance Investigator | $68,130 | -3% (Decline) |
| Paralegal | $52,920 | 12% (Much faster than average) |
| Financial Examiners | $81,430 | 18% (Much faster than average) |
| Lawyer | $126,930 | 9% (As fast as average) |
| Emergency Management | $76,250 | 6% (As fast as average) |
| Forensic Science Technician | $60,590 | 16% (Much faster than average) |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $47,660 | 23% (Much faster than average) |
| Note: BLS may update salaries and projections | ||
With a major in criminology— what can’t you do?
The valuable life lessons and skills I learned from the faculty at Stonehill extend beyond the classroom. I learned to think critically, work collaboratively with faculty and other students, and how to translate classroom knowledge into real-world applications.