Criminologist

Epidemiologists are at the forefront of public health, meticulously studying the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations. Their work is crucial in shaping health policies and interventions that can save lives and improve community health globally and across the UK.

Criminologist

35

Social Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO35%moving to77%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSD
STARTING PAY£28,000 - £34,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

Is this the only route?

This is the standard academic trajectory, but modern careers are highly flexible. You can often skip stagesby entering the industry with an advanced qualification (like a Master's or PhD), or pivot sideways from a related discipline.

0ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONUniversity DegreeUsually 3 to 4 years of full-time academic study, explicitly preparing you for the theoretical realities of the industry. Requires A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent Level 3.-£103,350Avg. UK tuition & living
1FIRST STEPJunior CriminologistIn this entry-level role, you will assist in research projects, collect data, and support senior criminologists in their analyses. This position is ideal for recent graduates looking to gain practical experience in the field.£28,000 - £34,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level CriminologistAt this stage, you will lead research projects, manage data collection efforts, and begin to specialise in areas such as juvenile justice or cybercrime. Your insights will directly influence policy recommendations.£40,000 - £50,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Criminologist/Head of ResearchIn a senior role, you will oversee large-scale research initiatives, mentor junior staff, and represent your organisation in high-level discussions with government and community leaders. Your expertise will shape national policies and practices.£60,000+

Recommended UK degrees

Real courses that qualify you for this career, from the same register that priced the degree above.

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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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