The Average Salary of an Entry-Level Crime Scene Investigator
Crime scene investigation --- known formally as forensic science --- applies scientific methods to criminal investigations. Forensic science work may not have the glamor and excitement portrayed in "CSI" and other television crime shows, but it is a challenging field of work. Men and women interested in forensic science careers can expect good salaries at the entry level, with opportunities for advancement.
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Identification
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Investigators who collect and analyze physical evidence from crime scenes hold a variety of job titles, including forensic scientist and forensic science technician. Crime scene investigator is not a common job title, despite the popularity of the phrase.
Average Salary
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According to the International Crime Scene Investigators Association, starting salaries for forensic scientists and technicians range from $20,000 to $50,000 a year. Factors such as a person's education and experience, as well as the geographic location of the job itself, influence the level of a starting salary.
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Salary Range
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The InsidePrison.com website reports average salaries for a wide range of forensic science specialists, including crime scene technicians and crime lab analysts. According to the website, hourly earnings for crime lab analysts ranged from $16.75 to $21.44. Assuming a 40-hour workweek, at 52 weeks a year, a crime lab analyst could earn $34,840 to $44,595 a year. Crime scene technicians, meanwhile, earned an average of $20.40 to $22 an hour, or $42,432 to $45,760 a year.
Geography
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InsidePrison.com also illustrated how beginning salaries can vary by employer and geography. The website reported that a forensic scientist for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts earned a starting salary of $30,000 a year, while a beginning forensic technician in Arizona started at $530 a week, or $27,560 a year.
Qualifications
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An entry-level position in forensic science requires a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, forensic science or a related scientific field. Forensic scientists also should be trained in the safe handling of potentially hazardous materials, such as blood and other fluids that could be contaminated. They also need good written and verbal communication skills, as their work requires them to convey complex scientific information in a manner that police, prosecutors and jurors can understand.
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References
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