Understanding Criminology Salary in 2025: Career Pathways, Salary Trends, and Opportunities
Updated on Jan 16, 2025 | 9 min read | 902.5k views
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Updated on Jan 16, 2025 | 9 min read | 902.5k views
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Criminology is the study of crime, criminal behavior, and the justice system, with a growing demand for experts in crime analysis and law enforcement. The criminology salary in India varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and sector.
Roles within criminology, such as crime analysts and law enforcement professionals, offer different salary potential across public and private sectors. This blog explores criminology salary trends, career opportunities, and the factors influencing compensation in this field.
The criminology salary can vary significantly based on the role, location, and experience level. A career in criminology offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on society by addressing crime, enhancing public safety, and ensuring justice.
The field presents diverse career paths, from law enforcement to academic research, each offering different salary levels. Understanding these factors can help individuals make informed decisions about pursuing criminology careers and the potential financial rewards.
Here are some of the factors that play a key role in determining criminology jobs salary:
Also Read: 7 Best Online Criminology Courses to Improve Your Career
Let's now take a closer look at how they impact salaries for criminologists in India, depending on their roles.
Criminology salary in India vary by role, expertise, and experience. Entry-level positions offer modest pay, while specialists in forensic science or criminal psychology see higher earnings. Roles in government, academia, or private sectors also influence salary levels. As demand for skilled criminologists grows, career prospects and earning potential continue to rise.
Below is an overview of some common criminology-related roles in India and their average salaries.
Role | Average Annual Salary | Responsibilities |
Criminologist | ₹3.5L | Conducts research, studies crime patterns |
Law Enforcement Officer | ₹13.75L | Enforces laws, investigates criminal activities |
Crime Analyst | ₹4L | Analyzes crime data to identify trends, provide insights, assists law enforcement |
Criminal Lawyer | ₹12L | Represents clients in criminal cases |
Medical Investigator Officer | ₹5.5L | Investigates medical cases related to death or criminal activity |
Forensic Psychologist | ₹5L | Assesses criminal behavior, provides expert testimony in court |
Criminal Justice Professor | ₹7.5L | Teaches criminology, law, and criminal justice |
Drug Policy Advisor | ₹15L | Advises on policies related to drug use, criminality, and law enforcement |
Source: Glassdoor
These figures provide a general idea of criminology salary in India across various roles. It's important to note that criminology jobs salary can fluctuate based on experience, location, and specific responsibilities within each role.
Also Read: Career in Law: How to Start, Salary, Opportunities
Moving on, let's take a look at how criminology salaries differ based on industry.
The criminology salary in India varies across industries, with roles in law enforcement, legal services, and academia offering different compensation levels based on demand and expertise.
Below is a salary breakdown by industry:
Industry | Average Annual Salary | Description |
Law Enforcement | ₹4L | Includes roles such as police officers, investigators, and security personnel. |
Legal Services | ₹6L | Includes criminal lawyers, legal advisors, and public defenders. |
Education and Research | ₹5.5L | Professors, criminology researchers, and academic roles in universities. |
Private Security and Consulting | ₹11L | Roles within private firms providing security consulting or crime prevention. |
Government and Public Policy | ₹10L | Positions in policy-making, crime analysis, and government law enforcement advisory. |
Source: Glassdoor
Now, let's explore how your level of experience can impact your criminology salary.
As you gain more experience and expertise in the field, your salary typically increases. Below is a salary comparison based on experience level:
Experience Level | Average Annual Salary | Description |
Entry-Level | ₹4L | Fresh graduates with less than 2 years of experience, assistants or junior criminologists. |
Junior-Level | ₹6L | Professionals with 2-5 years of experience, in crime analysis, law enforcement, or legal services. |
Mid-Level | ₹10L | Professionals with 5-10 years of experience, lead teams or take on more complex criminology projects. |
Senior-Level | ₹20L+ | Professionals with 10+ years of experience, specialize in areas such as criminal justice or policy development. |
Lead/Expert | ₹30L+ | Highly experienced professionals, such as lead criminologists or policy advisors. |
Next, let's examine how location influences your criminology salary.
Criminology salaries in India differ across locations, with metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru offering higher pay compared to smaller towns. This is due to the greater demand for criminology professionals in urban areas and the higher cost of living.
Locations with a strong presence of law enforcement agencies, universities, or private firms often provide more lucrative opportunities, making the region a significant factor in determining salary levels.
Below is a salary comparison by location:
City | Average Annual Salary |
Mumbai | ₹9L |
Delhi | ₹8.5L |
Bengaluru | ₹8L |
Kolkata | ₹6L |
Chennai | ₹5.5L |
Source: Glassdoor
Next, let's explore how different recruiters affect your criminology salary.
Different recruiters, ranging from government agencies to private companies, offer varying compensation based on the role, responsibilities, and industry sector.
Below is a salary comparison by recruiters:
Recruiter/Company | Average Annual Salary |
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | ₹11L |
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) | ₹7.5L |
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) | ₹5L |
Indian Police Services (IPS) | ₹7L |
Accenture | ₹6L |
Source: Glassdoor
Next, let’s look into effective strategies to help you increase your salaries!
Boost your criminology salary in India by gaining advanced certifications, specializing in areas like criminal psychology or forensic science, and gaining relevant experience. Networking, staying current with industry trends, and targeting high-paying sectors can also help. Consistently delivering results and taking leadership roles further enhance salary growth.
On that note, time to see six concise ways to boost your criminology salary in India:
Also Read: Top 10 Highest Paying Psychology Jobs in India in 2025
With these strategies in mind, let’s look at skills that can help you increase criminology jobs salary.
To achieve success and increase your criminology salary, it's crucial to develop key skills that are valued in the field.
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On that note, let's take a closer look at a structured approach to securing employment and building a successful career in this field.
To secure employment and build a successful career in criminology, you need a structured approach that combines the right educational background and a clear career progression plan.
Let’s look at the steps:
Step | Description |
Educational Background | Obtain a degree in criminology, criminal justice, or a related field. A solid foundation in these areas is essential for securing higher-paying criminology jobs. |
Certifications and Upskilling | Enhance your skills and boost your criminology salary potential by pursuing upGrad’s free specialized courses in areas like forensic psychology or cybercrime. |
Gaining Relevant Experience | Gain hands-on experience through internships, volunteering, or entry-level roles in law enforcement or legal services. Experience in high-demand sectors can help you increase your criminology salary in India. |
Career Progression Path | Plan your career by aiming for roles with more responsibilities, such as a senior criminologist or policy advisor. As you move up the ladder, you’ll see a significant increase in your criminology jobs salary. |
Progressing steadily through these career milestones will help you maximize your criminology salary over time.
upGrad is dedicated to providing high-quality education designed to help you excel in the legal field. With its specially tailored programs and industry-recognized courses, upGrad helps you acquire the necessary skills and qualifications to advance your legal career.
Here are some specialized programs that can help you build a solid foundation and boost your career in the legal industry:
Looking for expert advice tailored to your goals? Contact upGrad’s counseling services or visit one of upGrad’s offline centers to find the best course for you.
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