Do criminologists get paid well?
A criminologist tends to be an academic. They study crime, criminals and social issues involved in law enforcement. If they can get tenure they get paid OK and know they have a teaching job for life. Most are paid like any other college instructor. Very few work for police departments. The last I can remember was O.W. Wilson who in th early 60’s became the chief of Chicago. He headed the search committee and picked himself. If you are talking about CSI type technicians like the other answer assumed then it depends on the department. They are criminalistic (forensic) technicians or scientists. Most civilian technicians get paid less then officers. In my old department the mobile crime scene personnel got sergeants pay but they were police officers first. A friend’s kid is a civilian firearms expert with the state lab and he gets paid a bit less then a patrol officer in my old department with 5 years on.
