Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the U.S.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary in the U.S. earn a median of $76,590 a year, based on BLS data for 13,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,240 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $87,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,000 |
| 25th percentile | $60,020 |
| Median | $76,590 |
| 75th percentile | $100,870 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,240 |
| Average (mean) | $87,550 |
Half of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,382.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,191.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,945.77 |
| Weekly | $1,472.88 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $76,590 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Best-paying metro areas for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $223,240 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $170,070 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $168,410 | 150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,790 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $137,340 | 230 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $122,730 | 50 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $105,680 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $103,870 | 660 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $97,380 | 30 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $93,990 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $93,670 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $86,690 | 920 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $85,560 | 230 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $83,930 | 270 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,060 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 920 | $86,690 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 660 | $103,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 340 | $66,040 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 270 | $83,930 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 250 | $81,080 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 240 | $79,420 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 240 | $71,230 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 230 | $85,560 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 230 | $137,340 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 210 | $74,440 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 180 | $78,610 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 180 | $93,670 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 150 | $73,260 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 150 | $75,600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 150 | $223,240 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1111. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The median salary for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $76,590 a year. Pay ranges from $45,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. earn at least $140,240 a year. The top 25% earn $100,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,000 a year, and a quarter of criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn $60,020 or less.
How many criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary work in the U.S.?
About 13,150 criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.