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Public universities
University of California, Arizona State University, University of Michigan
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
These instructors teach college courses on policing, courts, corrections, and criminal justice policy, and they spend a lot of time advising students on classes and careers. The work stands out because it mixes classroom teaching with real-world public-safety issues, often for students heading into law enforcement or graduate study. The main tradeoff is that the job rewards deep subject knowledge and strong communication, but openings are limited and usually require advanced credentials.
Also known as Criminal Justice InstructorCriminal Justice ProfessorLaw Enforcement InstructorPolice Science InstructorCriminology Instructor
Median Salary
$71,470
Mean $84,820
U.S. Workforce
~14K
1.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2%
16.2K to 16.5K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~14K workers, with a median annual pay of $71,470 and roughly 1.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 16.2 K in 2024 to 16.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in criminal justice or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Senior Professor / Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Learning Management Systems: Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle, Curriculum Design, Syllabus Development & Course Planning, and Academic Research Databases: JSTOR, ProQuest & LexisNexis, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students choose classes, plan their studies, and talk through career goals.
- Lead class discussions and explain criminal justice topics in plain language.
- Build reading lists and gather articles, cases, and other course materials for class.
- Grade papers, exams, and projects, and keep attendance and grade records up to date.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students choose classes, plan their studies, and talk through career goals.
02 Lead class discussions and explain criminal justice topics in plain language.
03 Build reading lists and gather articles, cases, and other course materials for class.
04 Grade papers, exams, and projects, and keep attendance and grade records up to date.
05 Hold office hours so students can ask questions and get one-on-one help.
06 Stay current on changes in the field and work with other faculty on teaching issues.
Industries That Hire
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Community colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, City Colleges of Chicago
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Private universities
Liberty University, University of Phoenix, Syracuse University
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Online universities
Southern New Hampshire University, Capella University, Purdue Global
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Police academies and public safety training centers
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, New York Police Academy, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for teaching work, with a median of $71,470 and a mean of $84,820, so experienced faculty can earn more than the middle of the field.
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BLS says no prior work experience or on-the-job training is required, which makes the path more straightforward once you have the degree.
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The subject matter is concrete and current, so you can teach real cases, law-enforcement practices, and correctional policy instead of abstract theory alone.
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Office hours and advising give you regular one-on-one time with students, which is a good fit if you like mentoring.
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The job keeps you learning through new research, conferences, and changing public-safety issues, so the material rarely gets stale.
Challenges
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Growth is only 2.0% through 2034, and about 1.2k annual openings means competition for full-time roles can be tight.
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The usual entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, so getting into the field can take years of school and a lot of cost.
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A big share of the job is grading, recordkeeping, and course prep, not just teaching and discussion.
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The market is split between more stable tenure-track jobs and lower-paid adjunct work, so pay and benefits can be uneven even for qualified people.
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Course content can be shaped by public debate, budget cuts, and shifts in criminal justice policy, which can make the work politically sensitive and less predictable.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-2 years
$32K-$45K
Supports faculty, helps lead discussion sections, grades assignments, and builds classroom experience while finishing graduate study.
Adjunct Instructor
1-4 years
$46K-$61K
Teaches one or more courses per term, often at multiple campuses, with less job security and fewer benefits than full-time faculty.
Postsecondary Criminal Justice Teacher THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$64K-$85K
Runs full courses, advises students, grades work, and helps shape curriculum; this band includes the $71,470 median salary.
Senior Professor / Department Chair
8-15+ years
$86K-$120K
Leads programs, mentors junior faculty, handles committee work, and may balance teaching with research or department management.
Education Paths
Master's degree in criminal justice or a related field
The most common route, held by 38.89% of workers in this role, and it is often enough for community college or adjunct teaching jobs.
Doctoral degree or professional degree
A major route, held by 25.6% of workers, and it is often expected for full-time or tenure-track faculty positions.
Post-secondary certificate
A smaller path, held by 10.9% of workers, usually added on top of another degree to strengthen teaching credentials or a specialty area.
Post-master's certificate
Used by 8.61% of workers, this option can help experienced educators add a new teaching focus or deepen academic expertise.
Key Skills
Technical
Learning Management Systems: Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle 90%
Curriculum Design, Syllabus Development & Course Planning 88%
Academic Research Databases: JSTOR, ProQuest & LexisNexis 86%
Lesson Planning & Classroom Assessment 84%
Student Information Systems: Banner, PeopleSoft & Degree Audit Tools 82%
Microsoft Office, Google Workspace & Presentation Software 80%
Criminal Justice Case Analysis & Policy Review 78%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingInstructingWritingReading Comprehension Job Outlook and Trends
+2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 16.2K to 16.5 K over the next decade, representing 2% growth. Around 1.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.