Explore 13 careers in criminology: A guide for graduates

If you’re interested in human behaviour and all things crime, then criminology may be a rewarding career choice for you. The field goes beyond the type of forensic work you see on TV – criminology degree jobs cover a surprising range of roles and responsibilities.

A criminology degree can take you many places. You might work in the police force, become a private investigator or help the community as a social worker. Criminology studies focus on the scientific, theoretical and psychological aspects of crime and criminal behaviour, and the skills you learn can help inform legislation and even prevent crimes from happening in the first place.

What can you do with a degree in criminology?

There are many criminology career paths you can pursue, each with its own focus areas. These include: 

• protecting the public, 
• working with lawmakers, 
• helping people who have broken the law, and
• working with victims of crime.

Your degree can help you carve out a challenging but rewarding career that positively impacts lives.

Many bachelor of criminology jobs require you to investigate and understand the motivations behind criminal behaviour. Your degree will teach you some of the skills needed to be able to predict and prevent crime, and include studies in socio-politics, law and ethics. Where you implement these skills to grow in your career depends on your own interests. 

1. Police officer 

A police officer’s main role is to enforce the law, with the goal of maintaining community safety. Responsibilities include:

• maintaining public order,
• being a first responder to emergency calls,
• investigating and apprehending criminals,
• enforcing state and federal legislation, and
• securing and examining crime scenes.

A degree in criminology can help you become a police officer in Australia, teaching you about criminal behaviour, law enforcement procedures, media communication and community engagement. A criminology degree could also be the starting point for a graduate placement with the Australian Federal Police, which opens the door to exciting careers in intelligence, criminal justice, counterterrorism and national security. 

Average salary: $107,000 (probationary officers start at around $65,000 per annum) 

2. Private investigator

A private investigator works with clients on a wide variety of matters, gathering information to support legal cases. As a PI, you may be asked to:

• surveil a person, 
• take photos and videos, 
• collect evidence, 
• take witness statements, and
• conduct research.

You may have to attend court to provide statements in cases relating to relationship breakdowns, unfair dismissals, missing persons, insurance claims and more. Private investigators perform the duty of a sheriff (called a bailiff in WA) or a document server to locate and serve people court or legal documents or summons. Private investigators rely on their skills in human behaviour to gather evidence and often need knowledge of the law, making a degree in criminology a useful first step. 

Average salary: if you are a freelance private investigator, you set your own hourly and day rates. Private investigation agencies may charge clients up to $1,000 a day for surveillance. 

3. Security consultant

A security consultant specialises in analysing the security of a property, organisation and/or computer system, locating vulnerabilities, assessing threats and maintaining protective measures. Also known as security analysts, security consultants need in-depth knowledge of the tactics used by hackers and scammers to be able to reduce their opportunities for access. This is where criminology career paths and degrees can help in the field of security. 

If you’re interested in a career in security consulting, there are different study options within your criminology degree to steer you in this direction. For example, security and defence studies can help you land government jobs, while cyber-security studies will help you in a career in cyber intelligence for government or corporate bodies. 

Average salary: $140,000 – $160,000 per annum. 

4. Legal assistant

Criminology diplomas and degrees can help you pursue a career as a legal assistant. Knowledge of the law and the justice system is crucial to successfully performing administrative duties in legal offices. The responsibilities of a legal assistant include:

• Answering client enquiries
• Analysing and organising information
• Collecting and recording evidence and data
• Searching legal records
• Preparing legal document drafts for senior members of staff
• Supporting legal teams at hearings
• Tracking hours
• Billing clients

There is a high demand for legal assistants in Australia, with entry-level jobs starting from around $70k. You don’t need to be a lawyer or study a law degree to be a legal assistant, but a criminology degree can help by giving you knowledge of how the justice system works. 

Average salary: $78,000 per annum.

5. Paralegal

Paralegals support lawyers in delivering legal services, but are not qualified to provide legal advice or work without the supervision of a registered legal professional. Unlike legal assistants, a paralegal can charge clients for their time. The day-to-day duties of a paralegal may include:

• Managing discovery for a case, including client interviews, research and investigating precedents
• Drafting legal documents
• Organising and filing legal documents
• Providing administrative support at hearings

Career paths in criminology can lead you to the paralegal profession by giving you an understanding of the justice system and legal procedures. You may be able to bypass having a certificate in legal services if you have a criminology degree. 

Average salary: $75,000 per annum.

6. Correctional officer 

Another potential criminology degree job is correctional officer or prison officer. The typical correctional officer maintains the security and safety of inmates, prison staff and the facility, but there are other areas you can specialise in. For example, you may decide to work with convicted people in offender diversion programs, supervise prison industrial programs or supervise field worksites. 

While no formal qualifications are needed to become a correctional officer, a bachelor of criminology can give you valuable insights into the legal system. The knowledge you gain in your degree can also help you work with inmates and set you up for a career as a probations officer or resident manager of a prison.

Average salary: $73,000 per annum.

7. Intelligence analyst

The profession of intelligence analyst or intelligence officer is another exciting career option for criminology graduates. As an intelligence analyst, you work in identifying, interpreting and analysing criminal threats to national security. Your days would be spent:

• analysing sources and information, 
• verifying intelligence data, 
• meeting with subject-matter experts, 
• preparing and editing reports and presentations, 
• researching and analysing domestic and global military, political, social and cultural developments, and 
• briefing senior public servants, military and government officials. 

As an intelligence analyst, you’ll be able to apply at a range of agencies with high security clearance protocols, like ASIO or the AFP. Having theoretical knowledge of criminal behaviour and foundational studies in counterterrorism is important for this type of career. A bachelor degree in criminology, science, social sciences, international relations, politics or similar is a great first step.

Average salary: trainee intelligence officers at ASIO earn $89,990 – $124,099 per annum. 

8. Investigator

Similar to a PI, an investigator is hired by members of the public, insurance companies or legal agencies to gather data to support a claim or legal case. For example, an investigator may be hired by an insurance company to gather video and photographic evidence of someone making a false injury claim. This evidence may be used in court and the investigator may be asked to be a witness in court.

A thorough understanding of the legal system and human psychology is very important for an investigator. A criminology degree can also help kick off a career path to becoming a criminal investigator, a crime scene investigator, or an investigative psychologist. 

Average salary: $95,000 

9. Youth worker 

Youth workers have a rewarding career working with young people going through behavioural, developmental, social and welfare issues. You may work with youth one-on-one or in groups, providing practical and emotional support to help with:

• family conflict,
• homelessness,
• drug and alcohol abuse, 
• sex and relationships, 
• education, 
• repeat issues with the law, 
• self-esteem and confidence. 

Where there are more complex issues to address, you will collaborate with other professionals such as psychologists to support the person based on their needs. You don’t need a formal qualification to start a career in youth work, but a degree in criminology or welfare will be highly regarded. These degrees give you knowledge of behavioural psychology, interpersonal communication and the legal system, to help you navigate different cases. 

Average salary: $78,000 

10. Social worker

Social workers play an important role in Australian communities, helping individuals, groups and disadvantaged and marginalised people receive support. They provide case management, counselling and advocacy services across a range of issues including:

• child protection, 
• aged care, 
• disability, 
• homelessness, 
• drugs and alcohol, 
• healthcare, 
• education, 
• policy, 
• crisis support and more. 

While a bachelor degree in social work is the standard entryway to becoming a social worker, pairing your studies with criminology will give you a greater understanding of the Australian legal system. A social worker with a criminology degree can go on to work in child protection, criminal justice, youth justice and more.

Average salary: $93,000 

11. Case manager 

A case manager is responsible for monitoring individuals who need support. This can include people with disabilities, chronic illnesses or other special needs. As a case manager, you may also help your clients navigate different government or agency systems by providing advice and guidance. 

As a case manager, you may work with companies and healthcare facilities like: 

• insurance providers, 
• government agencies, 
• aged care facilities, and 
• hospitals. 

To get into a career as a caseworker, you usually complete a bachelor’s in social work or a diploma in community services, however a criminology degree can help in fields related to the legal system and the public sector in general.

Average salary: $83,000 

12. Forensic scientist 

Thanks to dramatic media depictions, the role of forensic scientist working on crime scenes is an appealing career path for many. As a forensic scientist, you’ll collect and analyse samples from crime scenes like: 

• fingerprints, 
• blood samples,
• DNA,
• ballistics,
• chemicals and other matter.

Your analyses will help provide evidence to support legal cases. 

A career as a forensic investigator requires studies in forensic science, however there are special degrees in Australia that combine criminology with forensic science. They take up to five years to complete and allow you to pursue a career as a forensic molecular biologist, a forensic toxicologist or an expert in DNA. 

Average salary: a senior forensic scientist earns around $120,000 in the public sector. 

13. Human resources officer 

Becoming a human resources officer is one of the more unexpected career paths for criminology graduates. A degree in criminology gives you knowledge of human psychology, conflict resolution and interpersonal relationships – all important aspects of being an effective human resources officer. You can put your criminology skills to use by applying for human resources roles in legal or government agencies, such as law firms, police departments and the defence force. 

Average salary: $80,000 

There are countless career paths in criminology once you have your bachelor’s degree. If you’re attracted to roles in criminology, you can become a police officer, intelligence analyst, private investigator, forensic psychologist or corrections officer. If you’re interested in hands-on roles that help the community, you can use your knowledge to become a case manager, youth worker or social worker.

If you’re thinking of studying criminology, research which degrees offer studies specific to your field of interest. If you’ve recently graduated and you’re not sure what the next step is, explore outside of typical criminology jobs, as your knowledge of psychology and the legal system opens you up to a wide range of different careers.