Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median salary of $71,470 per year, ranking in the top 32% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn?

The median annual wage for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary is $71,470. That puts criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary at #260 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary is +2.0%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 16K positions in 2024 to 16K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.

What do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as criminal law, defensive policing, and investigation techniques.
2. 2.Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
3. 3.Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
4. 4.Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
5. 5.Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
6. 6.Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
7. 7.Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
8. 8.Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.

Top skills for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary?

The standard path into criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Law Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
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• Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
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Common questions parents ask about criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary