Salaries of Criminal Profilers
Although images from popular crime television shows and movies provide us with a glimpse of the work of criminal profilers, they fall short of demonstrating the job in totality. Criminal profilers are paid to be part-psychologist, part-psychopathologist and part-investigator while ultimately helping police examine evidence from crime scenes and developing the descriptions of possible suspects. Salaries for criminal profilers vary greatly since they may work for either local or federal law enforcement agencies.
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Psychologists
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Many of a criminal profilers duties involve psychology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average salary of psychologists at $64,140 as of 2008. The middle 50 percent earn between $48,700 and $82,800. The highest 10 percent earn more than $106,840.
Criminal Investigators
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Since another role for criminal profilers is that of investigator, it is also important to consider the salaries of criminal investigators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the salaries of criminal investigators at $60, 910 as of 2008, with the middle 50 percent earning between $45,930 and $81,490. The highest 10 percent in the field earn more than $97,870.
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A Closer Look
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Criminal profilers mostly work for the FBI, and, according to Intelicus, a career and education website, the FBI has official criminal profiler jobs with agents working at the FBI's headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. Typically, the work comes under the National Analysis of Crime division. Intelicus states the average salary of criminal profilers is $60,000, which is comparable to figures cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, Intelicus notes that salaries may vary according to factors such as experience and location.
A Profiler Says ...
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A career as a criminal profiler is not an easy transitional career since the educational requirements and available opportunities are varied and few, respectively. Those seeking to make a living in this field must have a college degree with an emphasis on psychology, forensics or criminal justice. As far as opportunites are concerned, the Pat Brown Criminal Profiling Agency states that profiling for the FBI or local law enforcement agencies typically requires time. As a result, the agency suggests having interests in other facets of these entities before seeking employment with them.
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