Also called: Correctional Psychologist
Applies psychology to the legal system: evaluating defendants, advising courts, and treating people in prisons.
Interviews a defendant to judge whether they're mentally competent to stand trial, writes a report for the judge, and later testifies. Others assess risk of reoffending or work in child custody cases.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 11 years after high school. PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology with forensic training, plus licensure.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Psychology, Neuroscience, Criminal Justice.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI can summarize case files and records; interviewing defendants and testifying under oath require a licensed expert.
Classes: AP Psychology, Mock Trial, Government.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-3039.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.