Criminal Justice Degrees Overview in Texas

Published on August 28, 2023

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Criminal justice professionals help maintain public safety and uphold justice. Explore this guide to discover more about criminal justice degrees and careers in Texas.

Criminal Justice Careers in Texas

What can you do with a degree from one of the criminal justice colleges in Texas? Criminal justice graduates work with court systems, police departments, and private security firms to prevent or investigate crimes.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 421,500 openings in protective services each year between 2021 and 2031. These jobs pay a median salary of $46,590 as of May 2021.

Detectives or Criminal Investigators

Detectives investigate crimes, interpret evidence, prepare written reports, and provide testimony about what they discover. They may take fingerprints, examine crime sites, or make arrests.

Required Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $83,640
Top-paying Texas Cities: Houston, Austin

Private Detectives and Investigators

Private detectives investigate financial, legal, or personal matters for their clients. These professionals may locate missing persons, conduct surveillance of financial activities, or analyze computer crimes. Private detectives are private citizens who do not operate with police authority.

Required Degree: Varies
Average Annual Salary (May 2022): $59,400

Transit and Railroad Police

Transit and railroad police patrol transit properties to protect employees, passengers, and goods from potential criminal behavior.

Required Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Average Annual Salary (May 2022): $76,380

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Police and patrol officers help protect people's lives and property by responding to emergency calls and conducting criminal investigations. These professionals may arrest people who are suspected of committing crimes, collect evidence, write detailed reports, and testify in legal proceedings.

Required Degree: High School Diploma or GED Certificate
Average Annual Salary (May 2022): $71,380
Top-paying Texas Cities: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Ft. Worth

Correctional Officers and Jailers

Correctional officers or jailers help keep order in Texas' prisons and jails. They may transport people in prison, supervise social activities, conduct searches for contraband, and ensure corrections facilities meet safety standards.

Required Degree: High School Diploma or GED Certificate
Average Annual Salary (May 2022): $54,760
Top-paying Texas Cities: Dallas, Houston, Ft. Worth, San Antonio

Probation Officers

Probation officers help rehabilitate offenders through supervision, counseling, and needs assessment. They may attend court hearings, and they often check their clients' homes or places of employment to ensure their compliance with court orders. Probation officers typically work for state or local governments.

Required Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $60,250
Top-paying Texas City: Austin

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

These criminal justice professionals oversee members of the police force. They may train new staff members in proper procedures, explain operations to subordinates, and coordinate investigations.

Required Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Average Annual Salary (May 2022): $99,410
Top-paying Texas Cities: El Paso, Waco, Tyler

Gambling Investigators

Gambling investigators provide security for casinos and gambling facilities. They monitor patrons' behavior using audio and visual equipment to help prevent cheating or theft. Investigators also respond to emergencies, control building access, and deter criminal activity.

Required Degree: High School Diploma or GED Certificate
Average Annual Salary (May 2022): $39,290

Featured Online Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

How Texas Compares to Criminal Justice Nationally

The following table contrasts the national average salary for a selection of criminal justice careers against salaries in Texas.

Criminal Justice Careers & Salaries
Criminal Justice Career	Average National Salary	Average Texas Salary (May 2022)
Detective or Criminal Investigator	$83,640	$82,990
Private Detectives and Investigators	$59,400	$54,990
Transit and Railroad Police	$76,380	$73,730
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$71,380	$66,570
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$54,760	$44,550
Probation Officer	$60,250	$49,540
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$99,410	$95,850
Gambling Investigators	$39,290	$33,430

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Where to Go After Criminal Justice School in Texas

Professional Resources for Criminal Justice in Texas

A free resource library for anyone in Texas, this organization provides information on topics related to law enforcement, corrections, victimology, emergency management, and homeland security. The Institute for Homeland Security from Sam Houston State University's College of Criminal Justice created and owns this site.

This department oversees the state's prisons, jails, and parole system. Its website includes information on becoming a correctional officer, working as a volunteer, and staying in touch with an incarcerated loved one.

Formed in the 1980s to offer standards and training solutions for Texas police officers assigned to SWAT teams, this organization now maintains 3,000 members. TTPOA offers training, competitions, and an annual conference.

Hostage negotiators formed this organization in 1993 to expand access to training and networking for their profession in Texas. The association offers a conference, regional courses, and other educational resources.

A university-level research center at Texas State University, the center offers school readiness assessment, behavioral threat assessment, and school-based law enforcement training. Its programs include tobacco enforcement, a youth preparedness council, and community tobacco and nicotine prevention.

Affiliated with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, this organization serves criminal justice professionals across Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Members can participate in a conference, access the association's journal, and receive professional awards.

Dedicated to serving fraud prevention specialists, this association claims more than 90,000 members across 190 chapters around the world. Members can earn the certified fraud examiners credential and take advantage of training, events, and other resources.

The state's public safety department holds four goals — prevent crime and terrorism, save lives and protect property, maintain public order, and provide effective and secure licensing services. Among other things, the department maintains crime records and a crime laboratory.

This commission establishes and enforces standards for law enforcement. The website includes information on licensing, training, forms, applications, and job openings in law enforcement.

A large law enforcement union in Texas, CLEAT provides training and legal services for members. The organization negotiates 77% of all Texas' law enforcement employment contracts.