How much does a criminal justice prof make?
Answer: A typical criminal justice prof in the United States makes $76,590 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 13,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Criminal justice prof pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,710 | about 790 |
| New York | $82,770 | about 880 |
| Texas | $77,270 | about 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $71,610 | about 530 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a criminal justice prof do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out.
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.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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