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Forensic Investigator
Do you like the idea of solving crimes through the use of science and meticulous analysis? If so, you may be a fitting candidate for a career as a forensic investigator. A forensic investigator is essentially a forensic scientist that works in the field, not in the lab. Forensic scientists and forensic investigators have a lot of overlapping roles, as do forensic investigators and criminal investigators. Nevertheless, these individuals do make up a specific sector of the criminal justice system that often aids in finding the truth behind vicious crimes. Here is a brief forensic investigator job description that you can review to determine if this is the right career path for you.
Job Duties for Forensic Investigators
The amount of money you can earn as a forensic investigator will vary based on the amount of experience you have in the field and the specialty you choose to work in. If you find employment as a generalist, you will have to dabble in any different areas of forensic science through your work. Some responsibilities you may have as a forensic investigator include:
- Collecting evidence for investigation at the lab
- Analyzing fingerprints, footprints, and tool markings as the scene of a crime
- Taking photos of evidence before you college it
- Scanning crime scenes for trace evidence that criminal investigators may have missed
- Conducting chemical tests on-site
- Bagging and labeling evidence for further review
- Brainstorming possible events that may have led up to a crime
You will have to use scientific equipment as you go out into the field, but this equipment will not be as extensive and bulky as the devices you can use in the lab. Forensic investigators will often turn evidence they have collected over to forensic scientists for review, but sometimes they conduct their own experiments with evidence. The extent of your work responsibilities will depend largely on the employer that you work under in the future.
Pay Expectancies for Forensic Investigators
Your forensic investigator salary will vary throughout your career. Some forensic investigator jobs pay more than others based on the demand for forensic investigators in the area or the amount of work expected of an investigator for a certain position. Here are some reference points so you can see the various salary opportunities you may have in this field.
Salary by Industry
- Government: $33,072 – $98,436
- Laboratory Services: $30,139 – $88,951
- Law Enforcement: $32,288 – $99,091
- Public Law Offices: $28,993 – $84,327
- Science and Engineering Services: $29,694 – $93,196
Salary by Location
- Washington, D.C.: $48,980 – $213,500
- Chicago, Illinois: $54,045 – $63,879
- Seattle, Washington: $41,437 – $56,810
- Lost Angeles, California: $39,305 – $68,163
- Atlanta, Georgia: $30,167 – $110,055
- New York City, New York: $30,000 – $140,000
As you can see, there is a pretty wide range of earnings that you may encounter as a forensic investigator, so just expect your pay to be on the lower end of that range initially. As you progress through your job, you will earn more money and hopefully work in higher roles within your place of employment. You have the potential to make well over $100,000 a year as a forensic investigator, but only if you rise to the occasion.
Education and Training for Forensic Investigators
To become a forensic investigator, you will need to obtain a forensic science degree. Some schools offer actual degrees in forensic science, and others offer degrees in criminal justice with an emphasis on forensic science. You may even be able to get a biology or chemistry degree to work in this field. You will just need more training in criminal law at that point to be able to work as a forensic investigator. You should only need to spend four years in college pursuing your education, and then you will be able to learn in the field.
If you want an easy and convenient option for your education, you may want to consider getting a degree online. This is easy to do, and it could actually get you through your base-level training faster in the long run. Online degrees are available in abundance, so check out some of the ones out there for you. Then you can take on the role of a true forensic investigator.
