The criminal justice major is designed for students who are planning a career in criminal justice areas, such as law and judicially-related fields, law enforcement and administration, probation and parole, criminology, adult and juvenile corrections, or urban planning and affairs.

There are a wide variety of careers in criminal justice at the local, state, and national levels. Carthage graduates have gone on to work as police officers, probation officers, sheriff’s deputies, pre-trial case workers, and lawyers.

Criminal Justice Job Salary and Career Outlook

Employment for law enforcement varies by profession, location, and government funding. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for police and detectives are expected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033.  

Nationally, criminal justice majors with bachelor’s degrees reported salaries of 61,213 per year (according to ZipRecruiter in 2024).

Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors

 * Information for all average yearly salaries in the United States were taken from ZipRecruiter.

What can you do with a major in criminal justice?

Carthage criminal justice graduates have found positions with the following organizations:

  • Police Officer — City of Chicago Police Department
  • Police Officer — City of Kenosha Police Department
  • Police Officer — City of South Milwaukee Police Department
  • Police Officer — Johnsburg Police Department
  • Dispatcher — Winthrop Harbor Police Department
  • Recruiter — Aerotek
  • Probation Officer — State of Wisconsin
  • Deputy Sheriff — Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department
  • Deputy Sheriff — McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
  • Special Agent — ATF

Hear from Carthage criminal justice alumni

Visit The Aspire Center for more information on careers after carthage