Here are five of the hottest law enforcement jobs.

Police Manager/Supervisor
Police Officers who work their way up the food chain enjoy strong base pay ($69,310 per year on average according to the BLS; $85,170 per year in the federal government) as well as the freedom to work in a wide array of state and federal agencies. Many police supervisor positions also come with a primo perks package that includes flexible scheduling, a cushy pension plan, and tuition reimbursement benefits, in addition to government-sponsored health, dental, and vision care. With the job market for police supervisors expected to grow approximately 9 percent over the next eight years, those trained to command the country’s finest should have no problem securing employment.

Interpreter/Translator
There is a reason it was called one of the top 100 recession-proof careers. Finding work in law enforcement as well as private companies, nonprofit offices, and other federal and state offices, translators – particularly those fluent in Arabic, and Dari — are in high requirement. The job database SimplyHired.com reported a 10 percent growth in translator job postings over the past year, a figure that will no doubt swell with the FBI’s recent announcement that they’ll be hiring 3,000 new personnel in 2009, with language experts topping the critical needs list. While new translators can break into the field with a two-year certificate, those seeking top-level positions will need at least a bachelor’s degree to land their dream job.

Forensic Technician
It’s a great area if you don’t mind dealing with the dead. For the next several years, workers who are willing to stomach daily dissections, tissue tests, and weapons examinations should be able to find a high-paying job without difficulty. Requiring a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, natural science, or criminology to break in, the job offers a median starting salary just shy of $41,000 per year (according to Payscale.com), with annual salaries for veterans in the field topping the $125,000 mark.

Hearing Officer
Also landing a spot on the recession-proof jobs list, hearing officer is an enviable job — if you can get it. Those who land the coveted positions can expect a fat salary — a median of over $72,600 per year, according to the BLS — as well as a comprehensive benefits package. The drawback is that it will take a hefty amount of education to get there. While technically only a bachelor’s degree is required to land a magistrate position, the vast majority of those in the field hold law degrees, frequently from name-brand institutions. With only 636 positions expected to be added between now and 2016, those who want the paycheck and the perks will have to fight hard to win them.

Detective and Criminal Investigator
Solve the crime, arrest the perp, make a difference. Those who crave adventure can find pulse-pounding work and a generous paycheck no further than their local precinct. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates that between now and 2016, the U.S. will add more than 14,400 new criminal investigation jobs, each earning a median salary of over $58,000 per year ($69,500 for those in federal positions). Fresh-faced investigators won’t have to concern about losing their first year’s salary to student loans. Requiring only one to two years of college coursework to break in, the job brings on high fiscal returns on educational investment.