Criminal Justice Schools in Missouri
Exploring Missouri’s Criminal Justice Degrees and Careers FIND PROGRAMS
Prospective students can find a number of criminal justice school options in Missouri, where the needs for legal and protective services is as diverse state’s counties and cities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently listed St. Louis, Missouri as the most violent city in the nation with high robbery, assault and murder rates. Students may be motivated to improve these crime rates by enrolling in criminal justice schools in Missouri, as graduates can use their education to protect and serve the community in many ways. From violent crimes to consumer fraud, criminal justice professionals around the state are tasked with ensuring public safety and upholding the law. Learn about how criminal justice school prepares Missouri students for a variety of careers and find what and where the state’s most promising job prospects might be for criminal justice school grads.
Before committing to a criminal justice school in Missouri, it may be advantageous for students to explore different schools and the programs they offer. Some additional factors to consider may be acceptance and enrollment rates, cost of tuition and class sizes. The list below ranks the Missouri’s criminal justice schools and can help prospective students find the ideal fit.
Missouri’s Top Criminal Justice Occupations
Upon successful program completion, graduates may have the option to enter into a competitive job market with substantial financial opportunities. Prospective students looking to study criminal justice can use the chart below to see popular occupations in the field along with employment and salary rates for professionals in Missouri.
Police, Sheriff & Highway Patrol Officers
- Total Employed in Missouri13,030
- Median Salary in Missouri$43,790
- Degree Level Required in MissouriAcademy Program
Correctional Officer
- Total Employed in Missouri8,260
- Median Salary in Missouri$29,610
- Degree Level Required in MissouriVaries; up to Bachelor’s
Paralegal and Legal Assistant
- Total Employed in Missouri5,040
- Median Salary in Missouri$44,350
- Degree Level Required in MissouriVaries; up to Bachelor’s
Court, Municipal and License Clerks
- Total Employed in Missouri4,310
- Median Salary in Missouri$26,700
- Degree Level Required in MissouriVaries; up to Associate
Compliance Officer
- Total Employed in Missouri4,130
- Median Salary in Missouri$58,060
- Degree Level Required in MissouriBachelor’s
Probation Officer
- Total Employed in Missouri2,670
- Median Salary in Missouri$36,280
- Degree Level Required in MissouriBachelor’s
Detectives and Criminal Investiagors
- Total Employed in Missouri1,560
- Median Salary in Missouri$65,390
- Degree Level Required in MissouriCertification
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Criminal Justice in Missouri vs. National Averages
Students who want to work in Missouri after graduating from criminal justice school may benefit from knowing what kinds of opportunities are available to them. Criminal justice professions in Missouri may pay lower than national averages, but job growth projections for many occupations are higher than the national averages. With a lower cost of living in the state, those considering criminal justice school in Missouri can look at the charts below to determine the type of income they can expect compared to their expenses, and see which degree level is necessary to land each position.
Salary
| Job | National | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Security Screener | 38,720 | 40,050 |
| Court Reporter | 54,470 | 54,720 |
| Claims Examiner, Investigator | 61,620 | 64,300 |
| Police, Sheriff, Patrol Supervisor | 73,490 | 85,810 |
| Fire Inspector, Investigator | 50,880 | 59,800 |
| Judge, Magistrate | 108,380 | 116,100 |
| Paralegal | 43,460 | 46,470 |
| Bailiff | 33,640 | 44,900 |
| Forensic Science Technician | 50,260 | 60,090 |
Job Growth
| Job | National | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Bailiff | 0.046 | 0.073 |
| Court Clerk | 0.045 | 0.057 |
| Detective, Criminal Investigator | -0.012 | 0.018 |
| Correctional Officer | 0.028 | 0.037 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | 0.248 | 0.266 |
| Criminal Justice Professor | 0.213 | 0.251 |
| Fire Inspector, Investigator | 0.056 | 0.064 |
| Forest Fire Inspector | 0.131 | 0.156 |
| Lawyers | 0.055 | 0.056 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Top Employment Areas for Criminal Justice in Missouri
Those who want to study criminal justice in Missouri field have a number of educational decisions to make that will impact their careers, including what program to enroll in and what area of the field they should concentrate their studies on. But another important factor for a successful career is location. The following table provides data on where the most criminal justice jobs are in Missouri, as well as information on organizations where graduates may find employment.
Largest areas of employment in descending order
Protective service
- St. Louis
- Kansas City
- Springfield
- Southeast Missouri
- Central Missouri
Legal service
- St. Louis
- Kansas City
- Springfield
- Jefferson City
- Columbia