What Is the Salary of a Forensic Investigator?
Forensic investigators help to solve crimes by analyzing and comparing physical evidence that they collect themselves or receive from other sources, such as the police. They test everything from fibers to bullets. They may testify as expert witnesses. They can specialize in several fields, including handwriting, ballistics or fingerprinting.
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Basics
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that in May of 2009, the median salary for forensic investigators was $24.75 per hour or $51,480 per year, with the bottom 10 percent making $15.59 or $32,420 and the top 10 percent earning $40.51 or $84,260.
Industries
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The industry type affects income. The top five highest-paying for this profession are the federal government, with compensation at $44.28 per hour or $92,100 per year; scientific consulting, with compensation at $37.60 or $78,200; architecture and engineering, with compensation at $28.52 to $59,320; insurance carriers, with compensation at $27.89 or $58,000; and medical and diagnostic laboratories, with compensation at $27.43 or $57,060.
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States
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The state in which a job is located can control pay. The top five highest-paying for this job are Massachusetts, in which pay runs $39.40 per hour or $81,950 per year; Wisconsin, in which pay runs $38.02 or $79,080; Kansas, in which pay runs $35.30 or $73,430; District of Columbia, in which pay runs $33.59 or $69,870; and Illinois, in which pay runs $32.86 to $68,350.
Cities
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The city of employment can affect pay rates, with Washington, DC, top at $37.71 or $78,430. The next four highest-paying cities are in California: Oakland with compensation at $36.67 or $76,280; San Jose with compensation at $35.62 or $74,090; Orange County with compensation at $35.53 per hour or $73,900 per year; and Los Angeles with a rate of $33.97 or $70,650.
Employment Levels
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The areas with the greatest employment numbers do not always offer the best income. For example, the industries with the greatest employment levels are local government, in which rates are $26.38 per hour or $54,880 per year, and state government, in which rates are $25.51 or $53,070. Neither of these two industries are in the top five for salaries. The area offering the most jobs is the District of Columbia, one of the top five payers. It is followed by Arizona, with compensation at $25.78 or $53,620, which is not a top payer. Finally, the cities with the best pay are Topeka, Kan., with wages of $19.21 or $39,960; and Phoenix, with wages of $26.21 or $54,520. Neither of them is among the top paying cities.
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References
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