by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Maritime Law Enforcement involves the study of Maritime Law Enforcement. A Program Focusing On The Application Of Law Enforcement And Security Principles And Procedures To The Marine Environment. Includes Instruction In Criminal And Nautical Law, Nautical Terminology, Seamanship And Vessel Operation, Vessel Maintenance, Navigation And Navigation Systems, Meteorology, Vessel And Passenger Safety, Radar And Remote Sensing Systems, Communications Systems, Vessel Pursuit And Stop, Boarding And Arrest Techniques, Investigative And Evidence Techniques, Weaponry And Applications To Specific Situations Such As Piracy, Drug Trafficking And Smuggling. Read on to learn the important information every maritime law enforcement major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering maritime law enforcement programs.
Programs in Maritime Law Enforcement build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations maritime law enforcement graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a maritime law enforcement program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a maritime law enforcement major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to maritime law enforcement tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 32.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.0% |
| Some college courses | 16.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.0% |
| Master’s degree | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in maritime law enforcement careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in maritime law enforcement can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to maritime law enforcement.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to maritime law enforcement.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 449,456 | 2.0% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 421,320 | 11.8% |
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | 349,535 | -1.2% |
| Intelligence Analysts | 313,116 | 11.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of maritime law enforcement graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,812 |
| 4 years | $44,073 |
| 5 years | $49,815 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for maritime law enforcement graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers maritime law enforcement grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $71,252 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | $61,847 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $52,907 |
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | $50,191 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $49,631 |
Use our unbiased maritime law enforcement school rankings to find the best fit for you.
Students interested in maritime law enforcement, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,895 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,997 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,474 |
| Corrections | 4,967 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,175 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 662 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 494 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 300 |
| Corrections Administration | 97 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
