Criminal Psychologist Salary

Criminal psychologists have been glorified by Hollywood movies and prime time television, showcasing them as crime solvers with uncanny abilities. In reality, the job isn't so much about solving crime but is to counsel the accused and the victims. They are mostly hired by correctional facilities, mental health institutions, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Some criminal psychologists armed with a PhD also work in educational institution as professors in the psychology department. They play an important support function in the criminal justice system and are regarded as the torch bearers of change. This mantle falls up on them because they try to understand 'Why' behind the crime and not the 'Who' did the crime. They are compensated fairly for undertaking this herculean task of effecting change in human behavior.

Average Salary

Becoming a psychologist isn't easy as you have to undergo some intense training during your undergraduate study and then study some more to gain specialization in criminal psychology. Upon completion of education you will have to acquire licensure in order to practice. Most criminal psychologists are hired by the court systems and have to conduct psychological evaluation of criminals before the trial. The location of the job and the type of employer also affects the criminal psychologist pay to a degree.

Cities like New York, where the cost of living is high should offer more salary to criminal psychologists than rural settings where the cost of living are considerably lower. Different government agencies will offer different pay packets depending on their budget and requirements. Here is a look at the median salaries offered by different agencies who hire criminal psychologists.

Agency	Salary USD
Correctional Institutions	45,000-90,000
Law Enforcement	45,000-85,000
Mental Health Institutions	40,000-75,000

Like most other professions, the salary depends on the experience of the candidate in the field. The table given below should help you understand how much variation to expect according to the number of years of experience.

Experience	Salary USD
1 Year Or Less	40,000-50,000
1-5 Years	55,000-65,000
5-10 Years	65,000-80,000
10-20 Years	80,000-90,000

The numbers given above are just estimated figures which can be greatly influenced by other factors like education, licensure and specialization. For example, criminal psychologists who specialize in adolescents or child psychology can expect to earn a little more than their counter parts without any specialization.

Education

To become a criminal psychologists aspirants will have to first complete a bachelor's degree in psychology. This may take 4-5 years to complete and student who wish to go for higher education will have to maintain a high GPA. Upon completion of the bachelor's degree program candidates can enroll for a PhD or Psy.D program and earn a specialization in criminal psychology.

Course work during the Ph.D program will involve cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, etc. Candidates will then have to submit a publishable dissertation to successfully complete the program. The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) offers certification exams which students need to take after competing their education. All states require licensure for practicing psychologists which can be obtained by taking examinations through the state psychologist licensing board.

Job Description

They have to evaluate criminals in the court system and submit reports on their psychological condition which plays an important role during the trial. They will have to schedule one on one interviews with the accused and assess their state of mind and behavioral pattern. Some of them are also requisitioned for selecting the jury required for criminal proceedings. At times they will also have to testify in court and give their expert opinion regarding the mental state of the accused.

Criminal psychologists also work with the victims and counsel them on matters like post traumatic syndrome and other psychological barriers to recover from the crime. The job also involves working with rape victims and abuse cases, helping them to better cope with life. A select few also participate in research program on things like social environment and its effect on behavioral patterns.

Individuals with good communication skills and willingness to work with people caught on the other side of law will excel in this profession. The job can be very exciting at times with a lot of interaction with law enforcement officials and criminals.