The Average Salary of a Forensic Entomologist

Forensic Entomologists Study Insects to Help Determine When Someone Died

Forensic entomology is an emerging career field made popular by television crime shows. Although significant education is needed, forensic entomologists can make good money even as a beginner in the field.

Definition of a Forensic Entomologist

An entomologist is a person who studies insects. A forensic entomologist is one who studies insects at a crime scene to help determine the cause and time of a person's death.

Salaries

Forensic entomologists generally earn more than regular entomologists, whose annual wages start at $29,260 and average $47,740 annually, according to aboutbioscience.org. Washington Workforce says the average forensic science technician in the state earns more than $25 an hour. The wage range for forensic scientists employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia ranges from $31,351 to almost $110,000 annually.

Where They Work

Forensic entomologists generally work for law enforcement agencies helping to solve crimes. They may also conduct research for government agencies.

Education

Forensic entomologists need a good grounding in science. Besides entomology courses in college, students will need to take other science courses, such as biology, chemistry, parasitology, and zoology.

TV Culture

The occupation has become popular because of the television series "Crime Scene Investigation," in which a forensic entomologist helps other investigators solve crimes.

References

• aboutbioscience.org
• Washington WorkForce
• Virginia Forensic Entomologists

Resources

• Entomological Society of America
• American Board of Forensic Entomology