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Criminologist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a criminologist is $93,600 per annum, before tax, up $19,800 since 2018.
Pay follows the sector you work in more than the job title. Government research and policy roles sit on a public service classification scale with defined annual increments, while university positions depend on academic levels and the length of grant funding behind them. Contract research can pay well per project but is rarely steady, and many early roles are fixed-term or part-time.
Roles that pay more than criminologist
The largest typical pay rise is $19,400 a year, moving into Policy Officer.
- Policy Officer+$19,400/yr
- Intelligence Analyst+$19,400/yr
- Data Analyst+$7,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher criminologist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time criminologist salary is $93,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Data analysis and Statistical modelling tend to command a premium over general criminologist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Policy Officer pays a typical $19,400 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Criminologist salary questions
How much do criminologists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a criminologist is $93,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is criminologist pay rising or falling?
The median criminologist salary is up $19,800 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than criminologist?
Policy Officer pays a typical $19,400 a year more and draws on similar skills to criminologist.