Taking CSI to the bank
If you're looking for money, we've done the heavy lift for you. This list is based off the latest employment statistics available, ranked in terms of annual salary and hourly rate. As you'll see, the ranking is closely related to educational requirements, internships, residencies, fellowships, on-the-job training, and the number of positions available in the United States. We've also mentioned, where we can, the job prospects for the future.
Use the links on the right to select the career you're interested in for an in-depth look at the salary you can expect. Reading through each career will give you a sense of the educational requirements you might face in pursuing a career in the field. When you have to consider the time involved, the cost, and potential student-loan debt, it helps to understand what the career return on your investment may be. It's time well spent.
#10 Forensic Biological Technician
$39,000 a year
While forensic science is itself becoming a popular major for college graduates, and, increasingly, a focus of graduate school, a large number of forensic lab personnel are coming into the field of crime scene investigation with general degrees in the component fields of forensics science: biology, chemistry, and physics. As smaller niche areas of forensic become popular, such as forensic anthropology and forensic geology, the field is seeing an increase in the number of traditional geologists and anthropologists entering the work of the crime lab.
While the starting and median salary of a biological technician are on the lower end of salaries, the number of available positions is much higher, as the variety of work, from crime labs to serology units to paternity testing, mean that securing a job is much easier.
As with most science positions, many employing labs understand that continuing education is critical to staying up on the latest. While biology itself, relatively speaking, does not evolve as quickly as other forensic disciplines, some of the advances in biological techniques are increasing. Because of this, biological technicians can expect several hours a year on staying sharp on the DNA sequencing devices and equipment and related software that are created by the major equipment manufacturers. If a biological technician wants to stay abreast of the latest in the field, and in particular, lend credence to his or her competency in testimony in court, then these courses are even more important.A biological technician's median salary is a little more than $39,000 a year, which translates to a little under $19 per hour.
#9 Forensic Chemical Technician
$42,000
According to the latest figures that are available, the entry-level educational requirements for a chemical technician, which includes forensic chemical technicians in labs, is just over $20 an hour -- not bad, when you consider that an associate's degree is of the bar to entry to the field. Of course, as with most science degrees, particularly in forensics, the amount of on-the-job training and continuing educational work that is required may be substantial. Many crime scene workers and forensic personnel, however, consider this to be one of the best perks of the job.
In the last year for which figures are available, there were just over 60,000 such positions available in the United States. The growth in this sector, compared to others in the field like forensic science technicians (which are geared more specifically to the crime lab), is slower than average. This might be something you consider when choosing which degree when you enter the field. It might be better, in the long run, the shoot for a full bachelors in chemistry. It will open more doors for you, and make upward advancement in the crime lab much easier when openings become available.
#8 Private Detective
$43,000
The median salary for the approximately 35,000 private detectives in the United States, in the most recent period for which figures are available, was just shy of $21 an hour. Better still, the growth expected in this field is expected to be higher than average. For private detectives, or any type of private, contract-based service, it's important to understand a few key issues. First and foremost, your salary and income is largely the product of your own work ethic, ability to beat-feet and find clients and work, and developing a strong reputation in such a small field. Good, quick work on your part will lead to a good word-of-mouth reputation, which in turn will lead to more clients and work.
Unlike most jobs in the world of forensics, the private detective position typically only requires licensure in the area where you're working. There often is no requirement for a college degree, though, according to the latest figures, many have some college training. You can expect better-than-average growth in this field over the next few year, which should be a boon to anyone considering this kind of work.
#7 Forensic Science Technician
$52,000
Newly-minted college graduates can look for work as a forensic technician. A bachelor's degree is all that's required for entry into the field. The pay is not bad either. The media salary is a little under $25 an hour, or just under $52,000 a year. Depending on what college degree you have -- biology, chemistry, physics, or -- increasingly -- forensic science -- you will have various levels of on-the-job training. Furthermore, certifications in the field will mandate that you keep up with continuing education (CE) credits while at work, all usually paid for by the employer. Since forensic science is such a rapidly-evolving field, particularly in the digital evidence-related fields, this continuing education is all but mandatory for the position.
#6 Forensic Anthropologist & Forensic Archaeologist
$54,000 a year
The median income of a forensic anthropologist or forensic archaeologist is approximately $54,000 a year, which is about $26 per hour. While this income is slightly higher than is seen in the more general disciplines of forensic biology or forensic science technology, there is a caveat. First, the training required to qualify for these fields is specialized. So the number of training programs in the United States that would qualify for you for this work are much more limited. Secondly, having a degree in one of these fields makes your employment in the forensic disciplines much more difficult to secure. Many established crime laboratories do not employ full-time forensic anthropologists or forensic archaeologists on their staff. The cost-benefit ratio just does not demand it. Rather, it is often more economical for police agencies or crime labs to enlist the help and support of adjunct faculty at universities for their expertise.
While trends in hiring of forensic anthropologists and forensic archaeologists is increasing at 20% a year, you're still looking at only about 6,000 jobs in the entire United States for the period for which the latest data are available. But if you can secure a job in this field, hold onto it.
#5 Forensic Accountant & Forensic Auditor
$62,000 a year
In the world of accounting, most people think of CPAs -- certified public accountants. Typically, this certification follows a bachelors degree in accounting. However, this certification is not required in all cases. Typically, a bachelor's degree in forensic accounting or forensic auditing, along with specialized forensic training, is sufficient, according to the latest figures that are available. The median income is just shy of $62,000 a year in the latest year for which we have good numbers. This translates to just under $30 an hour.
Among all jobs, accountants and auditors are among the most represented in all the fields listed here. More than 1.2 million worked in the United States. Certainly, a smaller subset of these worked directly in the field of forensic science. But auditing, in and of itself, draws on many of the investigative and forensic challenges faced during a forensic investigation.
You can expect about average growth in this field over the next few years, relative to other forensics jobs.
#4 Forensic Psychologist
$69,000 a year
One of the higher salaries seen in the forensic science field is forensic psychologist, where the median salary is almost $69,000 a year. This translates to about $33 an hour. The simplest explanation for this is sheer economics: the amount of training, both formal and on-the-job, are higher than for more entry level positions of forensic biologist or chemist. Furthermore, a degree -- oftentimes a masters -- is not, in and of itself, enough. Internships or residencies are typically required before the state in which you practice will grant licensure.
While there were more than 170,000 jobs in general psychology in the United States for which the most recent figures are available, it is difficult to tween out how many of these jobs are specifically held by forensic psychologists. Despite this uncertainty, the number of positions is increasing 20% a year, which bodes well for those wanting to enter the field.
#3 Forensic Mechanical Engineer & Forensic Architectural Engineer
$72,000 - $76,000
When the structural integrity or design of a system comes into question during a forensic examination, forensic engineers are often called in to assist. And the help isn't cheap. On part with most general engineering salaries for which data exist, mechanical engineers and architectural engineers can expect to pull in about $75,000 a year, which translates to a little under $40 an hour.
The path to becoming an engineer is a college degree. Within these degrees, however, it's important to understand the role accreditation plays. An ABET accredited degree is often required for many job applicants. Not only does this accreditation ensure than a forensic engineer -- either a forensic mechanical engineer or forensic architect -- have the engineering degree, but it ensures that the curriculum under which he or she studies covered all the core competencies that American expect from their engineers.
As with other engineering disciplines, growth is about average. On the upside, when all engineering disciplines are taken into account, and not just forensic engineers, the number of positions is very large. At last count, for which the best figures are available, there were nearly a quarter of a million of them working in the United States. This might be something to consider: if you want to get involved in forensic engineering, is is much easier to secure work in a general engineering discipline, and then once you establish a work history and some expertise, you can make the lateral move into the more forensic-related questions that forensic engineers face.
#2 Forensic-trained Attorney
$113,000
Coming in at about $54 an hour in median income, an attorney -- admittedly a very broad category of employees -- offers considerable flexibility in entering the forensic disciplines. Since forensic science is, by definition, the application of science to the law, having a law degree to supplement an undergraduate degree in one of the sciences could open up more options an many other degree combinations combined.
In the latest period for which we have numbers, there were about three-quarters of a million attorneys in the United States. This figure takes into account prosecutors, defense attorneys, and a whole host of others who have completed three years of training at a law school for a juries doctorate degree. Following law school, attorneys may take the bar examination in a state in which they want to practice law. Passing the bar is a requirement for the practice of law.
If you are interested in a law degree for the educational experience, and the ability to use this greater understanding of the law in your forensic work, it may not be necessary for you to pass the bar. Rather, you could enter the field on the strengths of your undergraduate training in the science, and merely draw upon your experience from law school. Many people have done this. The strength of the law degree, if it does nothing else, will bolster your credentials in competing for difficult-to-land forensic science positions, or work in ideal locations in the United States. Such cross-disciplinary training seems to becoming more commonplace.
#1 Forensic Medical Examiner
$220,000 - $350,000
As you might have guessed, any forensic science discipline requiring a four-year college degree, a four-year medical degree, and a residencies, internships and fellowships in internal medicine and medical examination, is going to pay a lot. What you might not have guessed, however, is that the medical examiner position is among the lower-paying specialist positions, when you consider the median pay of surgeons and anesthesiologists. The median income in the most recent period we have numbers is about $80 an hour, or just over $166,000 a year. Specialists, of which medical examiners are one type, make more.
A medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO) degree is required, along with board certification in many districts. The ability of the medical examiner to do his work, and present his findings in a court of law, are dependent, in large measure, on education and ability to establish bona fides for the court. Individual districts often determine if board certification is required. Typically, board certified physicians can demand a premium in their pay. This is true for medical examiners as well.
In the latest period for which there are good, solid numbers, it is expected that the job outlook for medical examiners is better than average among all the forensic disciplines. There were just under 700,000 total physicians working the most recent data period. This increase in demand for medically-training forensic specialists mirrors, to some degree, the increase in demand seen for general practitioners and family doctors, as the American population grows older. As salaries in other specialties increase, expect the salaries of medical examiners to rise as well to mirror the demand.
