Salary of a Crime Scene Investigator

A crime scene investigator or criminal investigator works at the scene of a crime to assist law enforcement in solving a case. They work for federal, state or local agencies.

Salary Variances

Salaries can vary based on the size of the metropolitan area the work is performed. Salaries also vary for local, state and federal agencies.

Large Metropolitan Area Salary

Average salaries for crime scene investigators in large cities are between $86,000 and $91,000 per year, because larger cities typically have a large number of cases to be solved.

State Government Salary

The average salary for occupations with state agencies is $54,000 a year, and work includes handling cases that local agencies aren't equipped for.

Federal Government Salary

The average salary for federal branches in this field is approximately $73,000 per year, and the work involves cases deemed federal crimes.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of a crime scene investigator involve analyzing a crime scene and collecting evidence, while adhering to strict procedures to maintain the quality of the evidence. Evidence is then analyzed by forensic personnel.

References

• Police and Detectives; BLS

Resources

• Detectives and Criminal Investigators Wages; BLS