by our College Data Analytics TeamMaritime Law Enforcement (CIP 43.0122) is part of the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field of study, alongside 21 related programs, but no U.S. college reported maritime law enforcement graduates to IPEDS in the latest year. Graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing, rising to $53,914 after four years.
Studying 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to maritime law enforcement, at 4.0 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Law and Government, Public Safety and Security and English Language. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Inductive Reasoning and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to maritime law enforcement, at 32.4%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Maritime Law Enforcement, with an average median salary of $63,406; the strongest outlook belongs to Detectives and Criminal Investigators, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Investigator, Law Enforcement Specialist, Police Officer and Crime Scene Investigator (CSI).
The occupation related to maritime law enforcement with the most projected jobs is Police Identification and Records Officers, at 532,882.
| 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% |
Maritime Law Enforcement graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing their program, $53,914 after four years and $50,331 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,221 |
| 4 years | $53,914 |
| 5 years | $50,331 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to maritime law enforcement is Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $91,449.
| 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 |
Maritime Law Enforcement has 13 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 100,497 degrees a year; the largest are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (41,501), Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (26,299) and Criminal Justice/Police Science (20,024). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,501 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,299 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,024 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,765 |
| Corrections | 3,838 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,370 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 679 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 497 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 310 |
| Corrections Administration | 87 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.