Career comparison
Criminal Justice Professor vs. Police Officer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Criminal justice professors earn more at the median ($76,590 vs. $76,210), while police officers usually get to work faster (6–12 months (academy + field training) of training). Criminal justice professors teach how the justice system works and research crime and policing. Police officers protect communities, respond to calls, investigate crimes and enforce the law.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Criminal Justice Professor | Police Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $76,590 | $76,210 ($36.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $45,000 – $140,240 | $47,510 – $115,120 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.5% (slower than average) | +3.5% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 51,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 6–12 months (academy + field training) |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in criminology | State POST certification |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, offices and with justice agencies.. | Officers work in patrol cars, on foot and at stations, in all weather and at all hours. |
What each job does
Criminal Justice Professor
- Teach criminal justice courses
- Prepare students for justice careers
- Conduct research on crime and policy
- Partner with agencies
- Advise students
Police Officer
- Patrol assigned areas and respond to calls for service
- Enforce traffic and criminal laws
- Investigate crimes, interview witnesses and collect evidence
- Make arrests and transport people in custody according to law and policy
- De-escalate conflicts and help people in crisis
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, helping others, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and public safety & security, but share transferable skills such as communication and communication and de-escalation.
Which should you choose?
Choose criminal justice professor if…
- I care about justice
- I like teaching
- I enjoy research
Choose police officer if…
- I want to serve and protect my community
- I can stay calm and make decisions under stress
- I have a clean record and strong integrity
Still torn? Take the Criminal Justice Professor fit quiz and the Police Officer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, criminal justice professor or police officer?
Criminal Justice Professors earn more at the median: $76,590 versus $76,210 for police officers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Police Officers typically train faster (6–12 months (academy + field training)) than criminal justice professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects police officers to grow +3.5% from 2025–35, compared with +1.5% for criminal justice professors.