How much does a criminal justice prof make?
a year · about $37 an hour
A typical criminal justice prof in the United States makes $76,590 a year, about $37 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They might teach criminal law or investigation, lead a class discussion, and grade students’ work. Between classes, they prepare lessons, meet students during office hours, and may do research.
Did you know? At the University of Alaska Anchorage, criminal justice students hold mock trials in class, and a dedicated space simulates a real courtroom.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $45,000 and $140,240How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s in criminal justice or a related subject, then continue to graduate school; a Ph.D. is typical for university jobs, while some community colleges accept a master’s. Teaching as a graduate assistant and gaining field experience can help.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and location matter, and pay can differ between universities and community colleges. Full-time versus part-time work also matters; a professional license may help if your subject leads to a licensed job.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($139,720), lowest in Kansas ($50,270).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $45,000 | $76,590 | $140,240 | about 13,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $139,720 | about 1,000 |
| Colorado | $122,050 | about 370 |
| Maryland | $99,600 | about 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,710 | about 790 |
| Oregon | $93,960 | about 70 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1111.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251111.htm
- magazine.uaa.alaska.edu/issue/spring-summer-2026/from-classroom-to-courtroom/
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY