Do you dream about becoming a forensic investigator but are worried about the salary you can make doing so? There is good news! You don’t have to worry because I’ve done some research and found out that:
Forensic investigators work in a variety of settings, from government agencies to law firms. All forensic investigators are tasked with gathering information that can be used to determine the facts of a case. The salary for forensic investigators varies depending on the type of job they have and where they work.
The average salary for a forensic investigator is $69,000 per year. This includes both salaried and hourly employees. Forensic investigators make an average hourly wage of $31.23, which is nearly double the national average wage for all occupations ($16.84).
The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $35,000 per year while the highest-paid 10% earn over $99,000 per year.
Salary for forensic investigator
The job of a crime scene investigator isn’t exactly like what you see on TV, but it is very much a vital and interesting criminology career. Crime scene investigators respond to crime scenes along with police officers and investigators in order to find and gather evidence to bolster an investigation. They often collect evidence directly from a scene and ensure it is handled properly.
Crime scene investigators also work directly with forensic science technicians, providing them with evidence that requires analysis in a laboratory setting.
Crime Scene Investigators Duties & Responsibilities
Crime scene investigators are required to handle the following work:
- Collaborate with law enforcement officials at crime scenes.
- Collaborate with forensic science technicians in the laboratory.
- Identify visual clues at a crime scene.
- Collect crime scene evidence.
- Classify and organize evidence.
- Photograph crime scenes.
- Report findings.
Crime scene investigators also try to piece together what happened from the visual clues available to them. For example, if a victim was shot and killed, the way the body landed on the ground, the angle of the entry and exit wounds, the location of bullet fragments, and more can tell a crime scene investigator a lot about what might have happened.
Since crime scenes cannot be preserved indefinitely, investigators need to take photographs and meticulously measure and document where everything was found as quickly as possible so the evidence can be assessed more at a later date.
Crime Scene Investigator Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes crime scene investigators in its data for forensic science technicians. Median annual salary for police and detectives is slightly higher, at $62,960 with the top 10 percent earning $105,230 and the bottom 10 percent earning $35,780. Figures for forensic science technicians are below:
- Median Annual Salary: $57,850 ($27.81/hour)
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $95,600 ($45.96/hour)
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $33,880 ($16.29/hour)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017
Education, Training, & Certification
Crime scene investigators are law enforcement officials, so studying criminal justice often is the best start to becoming qualified for such a career. Many colleges and universities offer the opportunity to major in criminal justice with an emphasis on crime scene investigation. Some of the key areas of study include:
- Forensics: This area requires a solid foundation in biology and chemistry.
- Criminology: This field covers the basics of law enforcement techniques and criminal behavior and patterns.
- Crime scene analysis: Everything from photography to handling evidence and fingerprints to dealing with violent crime scenes is included here.
- Criminal law: It’s important for anyone working in law enforcement to have a basic understanding of criminal law.
- Criminal justice ethics: As much as the law is important, it’s also necessary for those in law enforcement to have a strong sense of what is ethical.
Crime Scene Investigator Skills & Competencies
Crime scene investigators need to mix the skills of a scientist with those of a police detective. Some of the most important skills are as follows:
- Communication: Crime scene investigators need to be able to communicate with other law enforcement officials at the scenes of crimes as well as forensic science technicians about what evidence needs to be collected and what certain details at a crime scene might mean,
- Problem-solving: Gathering visual clues and other evidence at a crime scene and trying to interpret what happened is like trying to piece together a puzzle. Crime scene investigators need to be good at this type of problem-solving.
- Critical thinking: Before drawing any conclusions, crime scene investigators need to know how to use the scientific method to eliminate all other possibilities.
- Attention to detail: Examining a crime scene requires the ability to notice minute details and subtle differences. Moreover, the handling and cataloging of evidence must be done following precise procedures so that no evidence can be questioned because of mishandling.
- Photography: Taking photographs of a crime scene often is part of a crime scene investigator’s job. In addition to general photography skills, these professionals need to know how to record all relevant angles and perspectives in the best way possible to allow investigators to study the crime scene after the fact.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth for police and detectives at 7 percent for the decade ending in 2026, comparable to the growth projected for all jobs combined. However, crime scene investigators are included in the BLS’s numbers for forensic science technicians, and that field is expected to see 17 percent job growth during the same time period due to increases in technology and the reliability of forensic evidence.
Work Environment
The work environment varies for crime scene investigators. They must visit crime scenes and collaborate with police officers and detectives to collect and assist with gathering evidence, but they also may assist with forensic science technicians in the lab.
Work Schedule
Crimes happen at any time, so just like police officers, crime scene investigators should expect to work at any time. They will have fixed schedules and fixed times when they are on call, but those times can be anything from regular business hours to weekends to the middle of the night.
