Criminologist Salary and Career Profile
Solving problems, profiling criminals and studying crime are all aspects of a criminologist’s job. As a branch of sociology, criminology involves analyzing how certain factors make individuals deviate from social norms. A career in this field may begin with enrolling in a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology program.
Criminologist Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sociologist employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations in coming years. Job growth will occur as demand for incorporating sociology into research increases. Individuals with advanced degrees will enjoy the best career opportunities, notes the BLS.
Job Duties
Criminologists are employed by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. They are responsible for a variety of job duties, including analyzing the behavior and methodology of criminals to predict or prevent additional crime. They may also review the effects on crime rates of different law enforcement tactics.
Questioning suspects, studying demographic data and behavior, and creating criminal profiles are other major aspects of criminologist’s work. They also maintain extensive records and write reports of their findings. These professionals typically work a 40-hour week in an office setting. Shift work and overtime may be required.
With experience, criminologists may advance to positions with consulting firms, government or universities and work on developing crime prevention policies.
Criminologist Potential Salary Range
National salary data on PayScale.com indicated that criminologists typically earned between $36,000 and $50,868 as of August 2010. Recent bachelor’s graduates will generally start out toward the lower end of the range, and increase as they gain experience, certifications and specialized training.
Education and Training
Entry-level criminologist positions generally require a bachelor’s degree. Some employers also require previous experience, which can be obtained through summer jobs or internship programs while pursuing a degree in applied psychology.
The first step to a criminologist career can be a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology. Coursework typically includes social psychology, integrated theories of crime, courtroom psychology and research methods in applied psychology.
Employers can be confident that graduates of an applied psychology program are able to:
- Recognize the basics of probable cause, policing and rules of evidence.
- Understand concepts of applied psychology such as empirical findings, trends and theory.
- Critically examine clinical assessment methods.
- Examine human behavior, crime and criminality from various points of view.
- Leverage advanced skills and knowledge into a successful career as a criminologist.
Many employers offer opportunities for continuing education. It’s possible to gain an entry-level position with a bachelor’s degree and use a tuition assistance program to pay for a master’s degree.
Could a Career as a Criminologist Be a Good Choice for You?
If you are interested in studying crime and human behavior, and have good problem-solving skills and excellent attention to detail, you could achieve success as a criminologist. Other important attributes for this career include responsibility and integrity, as well as the ability to take a broad view of an issue and think logically. By honing these traits and earning your applied psychology degree with a concentration in forensic psychology, you’ll be on the right track to an exciting criminologist career.
