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Cybercrime Investigation Jobs, Salary and Career Outlook

Launch or Advance Your Career in Cybercrime Investigation

Gain real-world skills and experience

Receive personalized career advising

Gain the skills to assess and respond to cyber threats so you can take the next step in your career. You’ll build industry-specific practices in data collection and analysis, digital forensic investigation, intelligence software, reporting and more. Apply your master’s degree to several settings, whether you’re interested in local, state or federal jobs.

Michigan State University offers a variety of unique career development opportunities to help you stand out.

  • Build skills with industry-relevant internships
  • Network with potential employers
  • Connect with successful alumni

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Apply Your Master’s Degree to Diverse Jobs

Information Security Analyst $120,360 median annual wage1

Federal Special Agent $92,806 average base salary2

Detective or Criminal Investigator $91,100 median annual wage3

Forensic Computer Analyst $78,753 average base salary4

Become a Leader in Cybercrime and Digital Investigation

Michigan State University’s online cybercrime master’s degree program is ideal for those without computer science/IT backgrounds who want to launch or advance a career investigating or responding to cybercrime in law enforcement, government and private industry. The cybercriminology master’s program can elevate your salary potential, lead to opportunities for advancement and help you switch careers.

In addition to the careers listed above, you can prepare for jobs as a cybercrime investigator, digital forensics specialist, financial investigator, private security specialist and more.

  • The Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a record-breaking 880,418 cybercrime complaints in 2023, with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion.5
  • About 16,800 openings for information security analysts are projected each year from 2022 to 2032.1
  • Benefit from MSU’s partnerships with the Department of Homeland Security, the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center, the MSU Police and more.

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You’ll Learn

  • Explain the four forms of cybercrime, cyberterror, cyberwarfare and their impacts on individuals, organizations and government
  • Explain the legal frameworks used to prosecute cybercrimes at the state and federal level in the U.S., as well as comparative legal models used to criminalize these behaviors in other nations
  • Understand the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for policing cybercrime, as well as the role of private industry in affecting these offenses
  • Collect, query, manage and analyze data using applicable tools and techniques
  • Summarize and communicate information about cybercrime and cybersecurity threats to diverse audiences

Skills You’ll Gain

  • Data collection and analysis
  • Digital forensic investigation
  • Intelligence software
  • Reporting

Helping You Find and Prepare for Your Ideal Career

Your new criminal justice skills can lead you to an array of careers in the field, but how do you know which one you’d like? MSU offers several career services that can help you narrow down your ideal position and set you up for success.

Alumni Connections

Connect with a vast network of alumni to get a glimpse of the different careers available after earning your degree.

Internships

Work as an intern at an approved criminal justice agency and receive academic credit.

Industry Partnerships

Benefit from partnerships with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center, the MSU Police and more.

Career Advising

Leverage career advice from experts before you graduate so that you’re prepared to take the next step.

Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Information Security Analysts.” April 17, 2024. RetrievedJune 4, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
  2. Payscale. “Average Special Agent (Federal) Salary.” December 22, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Special_Agent_(Federal)/Salary
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Police and Detectives.” April 17, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm#tab-5
  4. Payscale. “Average Forensic Computer Analyst Salary.” May 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Forensic_Computer_Analyst/Salary
  5. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Crime Complaint Center. “Internet Crime Report 2023.” March 7, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2023_IC3Report.pdf