Forensic Science Careers

Forensic science careers are crucially important in the field of criminal justice. Prior to forensics, most of the evidence used in a criminal case was circumstantial. It lacked the scientific backing necessary to truly prove that someone is guilty or innocent of committing a crime. Forensic scientists can provide the data that lawyers and criminal investigators need to bring justice to a crime. Thus they are some of the most important figures in the entire criminal justice system. If you want to pursue a career in forensic science, you should have an array of employment opportunities in store for you. Here is a look at just some of the many careers in forensic science you may be able to obtain in the future.

Specialists in Forensic Science

Most forensic scientists pursue a specialization in their degree programs to allow them to work in a specific sector of forensic science. Those who lack this focus are known as generalists, and they can be employed in many areas of criminal investigation. If you want to concentrate on one realm of crime scene investigation in your career, you could explore one of the following:

• Controlled substance identification: Detecting the presence of drugs or alcohol in tissues or bodily fluids
• Toxicology: Examining body fluids for the presence of poison
• Chemistry: Analyzing trace physical evidence from a crime
• Fingerprinting: Evaluating fingerprints left at a crime
• Document examination: Detecting forgery and document dating by looking over written media
• Biology: Assessing DNA samples from a crime
• Firearm identification: Pinpointing possible weapons and projectiles used in a crime
• Toolmark identification: Identifying the tools used to commit or assist a crime

If you have a passion for a certain area of forensic science, you need to formulate your degree program to suit that. That will determine which forensic science career you enter when you graduate.

Work Conditions for Forensic Science Careers

Most forensic scientists work 40 hours a week, but that is not always the case. Some forensic scientists travel the country to work with different investigation teams, and they offer work odd, late hours to help the other criminal justice workers in their team. The majority of these work hours are spent in a lab, but some scientists work at their desks to assess documents and records for a crime. You may work in a law enforcement office or crime lab, depending on the employer you find a job with. That will determine the overall setting for your day to day activities.

Potential Salaries in Forensic Science Careers

Different forensic science careers produce different earning levels based on the kinds of work involved with each career. Entry level forensic scientists usually earn between $30,000 and $40,000 a year, but experienced workers earn $100,000+ on an annual basis. Here are some charts to show you the different salaries you may make as a forensic scientist:

Salary by Location

• (1) Washington, D.C.: $48,980 – $213,500
• (2) Chicago, Illinois: $54,045 – $63,879
• (3) Seattle, Washington: $41,437 – $56,810
• (4) Lost Angeles, California: $39,305 – $68,163
• (5) Atlanta, Georgia: $30,167 – $110,055
• (6) New York City, New York: $30,000 – $140,000

Salary by Degree

• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry: $39,500 – $180,000
• Bachelor of Science in Biology: $29,669 – $79,713
• Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science: $34,000 – $97,000
• Master of Science in Forensic Science: $30,201 – $74,710

As you can see, careers in forensic science have a vast range of potential salaries. If you have a good education and a steady job, you should have no trouble making good money in this field.

Is Forensic Science Right for You?

Only you can determine if you are fit for a career in forensic science. If you enjoy chemistry, biology, law and analysis, you may do quite well in this profession. Forensic science careers may not be for everyone, but they are highly rewarding for those who can make it through the work. If you think you want to be a part of this career path, you may want to consider getting a bachelor’s degree in forensic science. That should be all you need to secure a job in the future. You will be working in the lab before you know it.