How much does a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher make?
The median criminal justice and law enforcement teacher in the United States earns $76,590 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all criminal justice and law enforcement teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-1111.
Criminal justice and law enforcement teacher salary range
Pay for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $45,000 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $140,240. The average (mean) wage of $87,550 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,000 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $60,020 | |
| Median (50th) | $76,590 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $100,870 | |
| 90th percentile | $140,240 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Criminal justice and law enforcement teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers earn the most in California at $139,720 a year, and the least in Kansas at $50,270. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $139,720 | 1,460 |
| Colorado | $122,050 | 370 |
| Maryland | $99,600 | 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,710 | 790 |
| Oregon | $93,960 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $84,270 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $83,060 | 100 |
| New York | $82,770 | 880 |
| Louisiana | $82,100 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $81,890 | 300 |
| Delaware | $80,510 | 40 |
| Iowa | $79,690 | 80 |
| Massachusetts | $79,500 | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $79,190 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $78,520 | 110 |
| Texas | $77,270 | 1,150 |
| South Carolina | $76,960 | 150 |
| Michigan | $76,770 | 360 |
| West Virginia | $76,730 | 90 |
| Utah | $76,650 | 80 |
| Ohio | $76,610 | 420 |
| Connecticut | $73,090 | 200 |
| Washington | $72,700 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $71,610 | 530 |
| Georgia | $71,510 | 320 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | 310 |
| Missouri | $70,500 | 360 |
| Wyoming | $69,530 | 40 |
| Indiana | $68,340 | 170 |
| North Dakota | $67,720 | 40 |
| Nevada | $67,440 | 60 |
| Illinois | $66,040 | 480 |
| Alabama | $65,280 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $63,020 | 1,220 |
| Oklahoma | $62,990 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $62,380 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $61,650 | 70 |
| Florida | $61,550 | 840 |
| Kentucky | $60,280 | 100 |
| Kansas | $50,270 | 70 |
State median wages for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers
The BLS projects employment of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 15,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 15,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,100 openings a year for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher
The typical entry-level education for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $139,720) and the lowest (Kansas, $50,270) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 13,150 people work as criminal justice and law enforcement teachers in the United States. At $76,590 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Criminal justice and law enforcement teacher salary FAQ
How much does a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher make an hour?
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $76,590.
What is the highest criminal justice and law enforcement teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers earn more than $140,240 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher is $76,590. The average (mean) wage of $87,550 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher a well paid job?
At $76,590 a year, a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 13,150 people work as criminal justice and law enforcement teachers in the United States.
Which state pays criminal justice and law enforcement teachers the most?
California has the highest median salary for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers at $139,720 a year. Colorado ($122,050) and Maryland ($99,600) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher a good career?
Employment of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers is projected to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a criminal justice and law enforcement teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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