Here is a list of Private Sector and Security Jobs for you to consider when researching careers for this field of work. The criminal justice field is multifaceted and it includes a wide range of components for effective function. Security administration is essential to implement and maintain the security policies of organizations. Among criminal justice jobs are security administrators who work in the private sector. These individuals commonly work for private companies and handle their security administration needs. Security administrators commonly need college education in criminal justice, security, or related area.
Security administrators help with the development, employment, and maintenance of security policy. Many work with other professionals to assess policies and make changes as needed. Security administrators commonly monitor systems and evaluate any issues that arise.
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In 2013, the average salary for security administrators was $88,000 per year. This salary is deemed high for criminal justice jobs and is considered 42 percent higher than the mean salaries for all nationwide job postings. Actual pay will vary on numerous aspects, like location and experience.
Airport Security
One of the reasons so many people are turning toward the criminal justice field is the vast array of possibilities that await them. Having a criminal justice degree is not like any other degree. Most degrees prepare students for five to ten jobs that they can take up for the rest of their lives. However, criminal justice jobs are marked at around the 30 or 40 mark. That is right. There are 30 or 40 different possibilities out there for criminal justice students.
One of the criminal justice jobs available to students is working in airport security. These are highly sought-after jobs, especially the ones at a higher level. The supervisor or senior level positions come with salaries in the range of $100,000 to $150,000 a year. The lower-level jobs begin at $20,000 to $40,000 a year, depending on where you are located.
Airport security is a great option for criminal justice students, not only as a starting job but as a career.
Bail Enforcement Agent
When looking for a stable career path, pursuing a career in criminal justice could be a good option. There are a wide variety of professional options in the criminal justice career path, but one of the most interesting criminal justice jobs is becoming a bail enforcement agent.
A bail enforcement agent is an individual that helps to enforce the requirements of suspects that are out on bail. After posting bail, a suspect will have to check in with the court and perform other duties on a regular basis. The enforcement agent will ensure that all of these requirements are met. If they are not met, then those hired in these criminal justice jobs will be tasked with having the suspect arrested and brought back to jail to wait for their trial.
Bail enforcement agents are typically hired at the State or County level. Most agents average nearly $50,000 per year at the middle of their career.
Bounty Hunter
Criminal justice is a field of careers that are growing faster every year. More jobs open up all the time and there is a copious amount of opportunity for advancement. If you’re not too keen on going to college for four to eight years, however, you might consider a job as a bounty hunter. Although a degree is not required one in criminal justice could increase your chances of getting hired and could possibly increase your pay.
While most criminal justice jobs can pay a salary between $25k and $80k depending on your level of experience and position, bounty hunters earn a percentage of the bail. Such outside-the-box thinking when looking for criminal justice jobs can earn you more money than any other field as long as you’re willing to work for it.
Bodyguard
Many people who work in criminal justice choose to become bodyguards. Personal security staff is hired for a number of reasons. Politicians, celebrities, and VIP’s employ bodyguards to keep them safe from the public and from specific threats that go along with the job description.
Professional bodyguards who have high-level security training have advanced weapons disarming training, anti-terrorism training, and a great deal of experience with criminal psychology. Many bodyguards come from criminal justice jobs, such as law enforcement. Members of Military Special Forces and government security intelligence are well qualified to become bodyguards.
Bodyguard or Security Guard? The difference between a bodyguard and a security guard is the degree of criminal justice training. Most security guards have limited training, whereas professional bodyguards have extensive experience in criminal justice jobs. In addition, a bodyguard provides a more specialized type of security, whereas a security guard provides general security.
Casino Security
A job in casino security is just one opportunity among the overwhelming number available to those who choose to pursue training for criminal justice jobs. Not everyone at a casino is playing by the rules, and there is a lot of money walking in and out of the door at any given moment. Teams of security staff trained in criminal justice techniques work together to enforce strict gambling compliance from the patrons while also protecting everyone in the establishment.
While some criminal justice jobs require monitoring security cameras from a distance or standing by the entrances and exits, casino security staff are also required to maintain a physical presence on the floor among the gamblers. From making sure that no one is counting cards to watching for pickpockets and other types of thieves, training in criminal justice prepares casino security for the responsibility of keeping casinos safe for all.
Crime Prevention Specialist
Crime prevention is vital to the criminal justice field as it helps protect people and organizations from criminal activity. There are a variety of criminal justice jobs in this field, including crime prevention specialists.
Crime prevention specialists perform a range of duties, such as providing consultations on security, installing and monitoring security systems, and facilitating crime prevention education programs. Crime prevention specialists evaluate crime statistics, predict criminal activity in a particular area, and create procedures to prevent crime. They work to remove or reduce the aspects that contribute to crime.
Generally, crime prevention specialists need at least an associate degree in criminal justice. Many employers prefer those who have previous experience in law enforcement.
Crime prevention specialists are highly paid in criminal justice jobs. The average yearly pay is around $80,000, which is deemed 29 percent higher than average salaries for all jobs around the country.
Criminalist
One of the beauties of graduating with a criminal justice degree is that there are so many possibilities awaiting you after college. Being a criminalist is just one example of criminal justice jobs that are available to students who have their Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees.
When criminal justice students enter the workforce as criminalists, they can expect to use their criminal and scientific knowledge in tandem. The purpose of a criminalist is to apply their knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, and criminalistics in a coherent manner.
Criminalists will examine the evidence and data that is left behind at crime scenes. They apply their observations, through the help of the scientific method, to try and find clues as to who may have committed the crime. The work of criminalists is underrated and unknown to many, but they are the individuals who help crack the toughest of cases.
Criminal justice jobs, such as being a criminalist, bring about starting salaries of around $70,000. These salaries can go as high as $150,000 a year.
Criminal Investigator
The criminal justice field is complex and there are a variety of parts that are essential to its function. Criminal justice jobs include criminal investigators that work under disguise in regular clothes to detain criminals, look into cases, and help solve crimes. They commonly work for local, state, and federal organizations.
Criminal investigators obtain information to investigate crimes by observing suspects, interviewing individuals, and assessing information. If they gather adequate evidence, they can formally charge a suspect. Those in this criminal justice job commonly specialize in certain crimes, like fraud or homicide.
Aspiring criminal investigators commonly need at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Many employers then require police officer training.
As of 2013, criminal investigators earned an average yearly pay of $48,000, this is a competitive salary among criminal justice jobs. Actual salaries for criminal justice jobs will vary on a variety of factors, such as location, employer, education, experience, and benefits.
Criminologist
Criminology plays a big role in the criminal justice field, as it evaluates criminal patterns based on a variety of factors. Criminal justice jobs in this area are in high demand to help law enforcement evaluate possible criminals. Criminologists study an array of aspects of why individuals commit crimes. They look at psychological, biographical, and social aspects and conduct research about previous crimes. They look to find insight on the influences that led to the crime.
Criminologists usually need at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, or another related field. Some individuals complete a master’s degree to remain competitive in the field. Many also complete internship opportunities in the field.
The average annual pay for criminologists is around $44,000, about the middle of the row for criminal justice jobs. Individuals just starting out in the field usually start around $36,000 and those with extensive experience make more than $52,000.
Cybersecurity
Cyber security specialists are vital members of the criminal justice team who are responsible for preventing cyber crimes using their specialized knowledge on analysis, forensics, and reverse engineering. Cyber security specialists design and implement information security programs that help protect against various Internet threats, such as malware, viruses, phishing, hacking, and information warfare. In these highly specialized criminal justice jobs, cyber security specialists often are required to have a bachelor’s degree and significant experience in information technology or computer science.
According to the United States Department of Labor, cyber security specialists in the criminal justice field can expect to earn a mean annual salary of $75,660. Unlike some of the other criminal justice jobs available, employment for cyber security specialists is predicted to rapidly grow by 20 percent or more from now until 2020. As cybercriminals continue to become more sophisticated in their techniques, there will be increased demand for cyber security specialists in order to protect the government and other organizations from these threats.
Fraud Investigator
For those that are looking for a career path that will always have plenty of professional opportunities, pursuing a job in criminal justice could be a great option. For those that are looking for criminal justice jobs, becoming a fraud investigator could be a good option.
Becoming a fraud investigator can be a good criminal justice job as they are hired by a wide range of employers. These criminal justice jobs are sought after by government agencies at the local, state, and federal level, as well as insurance companies and many other large corporations. Fraud investigators are hired and tasked with investigating situations of fraud and then pursuing either criminal or civil retribution for such incidences of fraud.
The salary of a fraud investigator will vary quite a bit from one job to the next. Overall, the average salary for an investigator is about $51,000, but salaries can be much higher.
Gaming Surveillance Agent
Criminal justice is a vast field and it encompasses a variety of professions to help protect people and property and prevent and handle criminal activity. Gaming surveillance is an important part to protect casinos and related entities. Gaming surveillance agents are a type of criminal justice jobs that protect casino staff and patrons. They commonly work in observation rooms using audio and video equipment to monitor activity at the establishment. They look out for theft and cheating and make sure people follow the rules and laws.
Gaming surveillance agents usually need some training beyond high school. Some individuals complete a college degree in criminal justice or related area.
As of 2013, the average yearly wage for gaming surveillance agents is around $30,000. This salary is on the low side of criminal justice jobs, and it is 50 percent lower than average salaries for all nationwide job postings.
Information Assurance
Information assurance is the practice of protecting the integrity, availability, authenticity, repudiation, and confidentiality of user data, most commonly digital data. In other words, individuals who work in information assurance provide security for digital information.
Criminal justice jobs in information assurance include computer crime investigations, computer forensics, security analysis and auditing, security software development, and systems security. Within the criminal justice field, information assurance both protects the digital data of law enforcement and investigates digital and computer crimes. Most jobs are governmental, although private sector opportunities are also available. Salary varies depending on the position and location.
Individuals seeking a career in criminal justice information assurance require a high degree of expertise and experience. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in information assurance is a required qualification for finding criminal justice jobs in the field of information assurance. A background check free of felonies is also required.
Information Security Specialist
Protecting sensitive information is a crucial part of the criminal justice field. Information security is a common practice of a variety of entities to ensure their information maintains secure. Among criminal justice jobs are information security specialists. These individuals help safeguard sensitive information from various sources, such as finances, products, and customers. They employ various methods to prevent unauthorized access.
Aspiring information security specialists commonly complete college education in criminal justice, information security, or other related field. Some schools offer specific programs for those who want to become information security specialists. These programs provide instruction on the necessary concepts and methods to succeed in the field.
As of 2013, information security specialists earn an average salary of $57,000 per year. These criminal justice jobs are in the median range of pay, but actual salaries depend on location, education, experience, and additional factors.
Insurance Investigator
For people that are looking to for a stable career, which promises the chance to always be able to find a job, finding a job in criminal justice would be a great option. Criminal justice jobs are a great option as they are highly unlikely to ever be outsourced or lost due to technology. For those that are looking for a job in the field, becoming an insurance investigator can be a great option.
An insurance investigator is an individual that investigates insurance claims for an insurance company. This career path can fall into the criminal justice career path because the investigators are often tasked with investigating false claims, which is fraud and can be punishable with jail time and significant financial penalties.
An insurance investigator, and other similar criminal justice jobs, are hired directly by insurance companies and third party companies that provide similar services. Investigators, on average, will earn nearly $50,000 per year.
Lawyer
The criminal justice field is necessary to ensure law and order in today’s society. There are a variety of criminal justice jobs available. Lawyers are needed when individuals or organizations are accused of wrongdoings.
Lawyers support and provide advice to clients. They explain legal rights and obligations as well as laws. They also represent clients in court proceedings. Most lawyers specialize in a specific specialty, such as criminal, family, and civil law.
Many lawyers first finish a degree in criminal justice or related area and then go on to complete a law degree at the doctorate level. After completion of their education, potential lawyers must pass the bar examination to become licensed.
The yearly base salary for level one lawyers is around $80,000, level two $108,000, and level three around $146,000. Actual annual pay for lawyers depends on location, employer, experience, and specialty. Lawyers are one of the most lucrative criminal justice jobs.
Legal Assistant
Within the field of criminal justice, legal assistants provide assistance to attorneys in the delivery of legal services.
Legal assistants perform a number of duties that support the criminal justice work that lawyers do. Legal assistants research law and previous legal cases; develop case information, evidence, and settlement options; draft legal documents; and file court documents, among other tasks.
Most legal assistants must have earned an associate’s degree or a certificate in paralegal studies. Some firms may hire college graduates with bachelor’s degrees but who lack experience in law or criminal justice.
The median pay of legal assistants working in criminal justice jobs is $46,680 per year or $22.44 per hour.
The job outlook for criminal justice jobs as legal assistants is expected to grow by approximately 18 percent between 2010 and 2020.
Loss Prevention Manager
Loss prevention is a part of the criminal justice field that strives to prevent the loss of profit and products from a variety of businesses and organizations. Like many other fields, this area needs effective managers to create and carry out procedures to reduce the loss of money, assets, and merchandise. Loss prevention managers are criminal justice jobs that create plans for both the safety of employees and customers. They also help locate lost children and deal with difficult patrons. Managers employed by large companies may be responsible for one particular location or multiple entities in a specific area.
Loss prevention managers commonly need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or similar field. They also need related work experience and knowledge of the industry.
The average yearly salary for loss prevention manager is around $41,000. These criminal justice jobs are estimated paid 34 percent lower than the average salary for all job postings around the U.S.
Loss Prevention Officer
Criminal justice is a career field that will always have a need for new employees. There are many criminal justice jobs that could never be outsourced or taken away with technology. One of these criminal justice jobs is a loss prevention office.
For those that go into the criminal justice field to become a loss prevention officer, there are many responsibilities that will be required of the job. Loss prevention officers are typically hired by retailers and other businesses that are looking to avoid and prevent theft by customers, thieves, and employees.
A loss prevention officer can either be hired directly by the store or by a third-party company that provides such security services. Loss prevention officers normally do not require any formal education beyond high school. The starting salary for most loss prevention officers is around $30,000 per year. More money can be earned when moving into management.
Penologist
Penology is a part of the criminal justice field that deals with the study, theory, and practice of the management of prisons and rehabilitation of criminals. Penologists are criminal justice jobs that work in prison systems to help inmates rehabilitate and return to life outside confinement. Penologists organize self help efforts, management of prisons, and treatment of inmates. They commonly work with criminologists, prison guards, and other prison personnel.
Penologists need at least a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology, or other related area. Individuals who pursue these degrees acquire the necessary skills to succeed in the correctional system. They commonly study the types of punishment, prison history, sentences, life in prison, and current issues facing prisons today, like overcrowding and budgets.
The median yearly salary for penologists is around $55,000, which is lucrative for criminal justice jobs. Actual pay depends on a variety of factors, like location, specialization, and years work experience.
Private Security Contractor
When looking for a stable career path that offers plenty of job options, pursuing a career in criminal justice could be a great option. There are many criminal justice jobs that can provide a long and rewarding career. One of these criminal justice jobs is becoming a private security contractor.
A private security contractor is an individual that is hired to perform some form of a security job. These contractors are hired by a wide range of businesses and for a range of purposes. Some of the jobs performed by these contractors are to act as security in retail stores while others are hired as personal bodyguards.
The salaries paid in this field range considerably based in the core job responsibilities. Starting salaries can range from $25,000 to $50,000 per year. Getting some of the highest paid jobs will require education or experience in criminal justice.
Private Investigator
While jobs in many different fields have either been outsourced to other countries or are becoming obsolete due to technology, those that pursue a career in criminal justice will find that there are still many professional opportunities available. When looking for criminal justice jobs, there are many different jobs that are available. One of the best criminal justice jobs for someone that wants to earn a lot of money and also have some professional freedom would be to become a private investigator.
A private investigator is a person that is a detective that works for a private organization. For those that are in criminal justice, working as a PI is often preferred as they do not have to deal with the bureaucracy that comes with working for the government. PIs are hired by a wide range of companies and organizations and salaries can vary considerably, with the average being around $40,000 per year.
Retail Loss Prevention Specialist
While many career paths are being outsourced or lost due to technology, those in criminal justice will find that there are plenty of criminal justice jobs available. For those that are looking for interesting criminal justice jobs, becoming a retail loss prevention specialist could be a great option.
The retail industry loses millions of dollars every day due to theft and inventory mismanagement. A retail loss prevention specialist is a criminal justice professional that will be hired to better manage the risk of theft. They will monitor security systems in the store, investigate any noticed loss of inventory, and potentially pursue any criminal or civil charges against an individual charged with theft.
Retail loss prevention specialists are typically hired directly by retailers, although some third party security companies do exist. This is normally an entry level job for those in the field and starting pay is around $25,000.
Security Analyst
In today’s society, criminal justice is an essential field, and information security is a major part of this field. Among criminal justice jobs include security analysts. These individuals work to protect and maintain important data and information from unauthorized access.
Security analysts plan, employ, and oversee security procedures to protect of computer networks and related systems. They also make sure necessary security policies are established to protect digital information and respond to potential threats.
Generally, security analysts need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, criminal justice or related area. Some employers prefer individuals that have a master’s degree in information systems. There are a variety of MBA programs available throughout the country. Security analysts commonly need previous experience in a related position.
The national average salary for security analysts in the United States is $61,000 per year. This position is among the most lucrative of criminal justice jobs.
Security Guard
The criminal justice field functions to help prevent crime and prosecute those who commit wrongdoings. Security guards are popular criminal justice jobs that work to protect people, property, and assets from theft and damage.
Security guards commonly work for organizations and private properties. They patrol and inspect buildings to monitor the activity and deter criminal activity. They enforce the laws and monitor properties using audio and video surveillance.
Security guards need at least a high school diploma, but some individuals aspiring to enter this field complete a degree in criminal justice. Furthermore, some employers seek those with a degree.
The median projected salary for security guards working in the U.S. is around $28,000 per year. The top 10 percent make more than $35,000 and the lowest 10 percent earn less than $21,000. Security guards are among criminal justice jobs that earn fairly good salaries.
Security Officer
Security officers are vital members of the criminal justice team who help maintain safe and secure environments in a variety of settings. Whether protecting customers, employees, or whole organizations, security officers are responsible for patrolling the property, monitoring surveillance equipment, inspecting building premises, and permitting entry to certain access points. In most security officer criminal justice jobs, these professional guards must remain alert at all times to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
Unlike other security services and criminal justice jobs, security officers only earn a median salary of just $23,900 each year. While the highest-paid security officers can earn up to $41,860, the lowest-paid in the field may make only $17,260. Although the earning potential for security officers is not all that appealing, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the criminal justice profession will experience growth by 18 percent between 2010 and 2020. As threats for crime, theft, vandalism, and terrorism continue to climb, there will be a higher need for security officers to protect the public from harm.
Security Operations Manager
The security of operations is an essential part of criminal justice that involves protection of security processes of a certain organization. All security departments need effective managers to oversee and organize security procedures. Security operations managers help employ security measures.
Security operations managers oversee the security measures of an organization. They look into security incidents and provide recommendations of how an entity can improve. They commonly employ other individuals to fulfill criminal justice jobs within the company.
Security operations managers usually need at least an associate degree in criminal justice, political science, or related area. Many employers prefer those with a bachelor’s degree.
The average pay for security operations managers is around $63,000 per year. This pay is lucrative for criminal justice jobs and is considered two percent higher than average salaries for all job postings around the country.
Sociologist
Sociology and criminal justice are closely related areas, as sociologists commonly study the behavior of humans to determine why they perform certain actions. Sociologists work to discover the causes of deviant behavior to gain a better understanding of crimes. They also study injustices in the criminal justice system. Sociologists create research projects to test theories regarding specific social issues and obtain information through various means, such as surveys, interviews, and observations.
Those aspiring to work as sociologists typically need a master’s or doctoral degree in sociology or related field. Many schools even offer dual majors in sociology and criminal justice for those who want to bridge the two areas.
The median yearly salary for sociologists is around $72,000. This pay is very lucrative for criminal justice jobs around the country. However, actual pay of criminal justice jobs depends on a lot of factors, such as precise location, employer, and years experience.
Surveillance Specialist
As one of the criminal justice jobs that support foreign counterintelligence and counterterrorism investigations, surveillance specialists are responsible for gathering intelligence information that relates to a specific assigned investigation. Surveillance specialists are responsible for monitoring communications between target individuals, taking photographs or videos for electronic surveillance, analyze various types of intelligence to distribute to appropriate criminal justice personnel, and organize every step of the surveillance operation. Individuals in this role must possess all of the personal and professional skills needed to tail a suspect and garner as much detailed information as possible.
Many surveillance specialists find employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigations or other federal government criminal justice jobs available. Depending on law enforcement experience and academic background, the annual salary for surveillance specialists can range from $33,979 to $78,355. Due to the continued evolution and sophistication of many terrorist or espionage operations, surveillance specialists have become increasingly in demand in the criminal justice field.
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