The occupation “forensic scientist” cannot be confined to a single job title, but rather a multitude of scientific disciplines that utilize a specific skillset to uncover answers in criminal investigations. If you are excellent at analyzing situations and problems and have a strong background in science, you may find the career of a forensic science technician appealing..
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Forensic Scientist Career Possibilities in the U.S
There are many different kinds of careers in forensic science. For instance, with a forensic science degree, you can work as a “Forensic Science Technician” which is a broad category that includes careers like:
- Forensic Medical Examiner.
- Forensic Accountant.
- Bloodstain Pattern Analyst.
- Forensic Ballistics Expert.
- Forensic DNA Analyst.
- Polygraph Examiner.
- Forensic Documents Examiner.
- Digital Forensics Experts and Forensic Computer Investigator.
- Forensic Toxicologist etc.
It is very common for Forensic Science Technicians to work with the local law enforcement agencies such as, Police, FBI or CIA etc. Their basic job description includes assisting criminal investigators in collection and analysis of evidence at a crime scene or in a laboratory. Their specific skillset and scientific knowledge allows them to unfold crimes in a unique way making them indispensable.
Forensic Scientist Career Statistics in the U.S
The following table highlights the job outlook for Forensic Science Technicians.
| 2018 Mean Pay | $62,490 per year |
|---|---|
| Job Outlook, 2018-28 | 14% |
| Number of Jobs, 2018 | 16,700 |
| Employment Change, 2018-28 | 2,400 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The figure, $60,690, was reported as the national annual mean salary for Forensic Science Technicians in 2016 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This salary increased in 2017 to $61,220 and further rose to $62,490 in 2018. Since the salary of Forensic Science Technicians has been consistently rising every year, it can be labeled as a growing career. In addition to that, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) was the highest paying industry in this occupation in 2018 with an annual mean salary of $110,720.
Forensic Scientist Career Outlook in the U.S
The career outlook of a Forensic Science Technician appears to be very rewarding. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported its employment growth rate at 14% in 2018 over the decade (from 2018 to 2028). To solve the menace of crimes, Forensic Science Technicians are likely to remain in demand for the foreseeable future.
To further explain the scope of success in this career, here is a bar-graph of states with the highest employment level in this occupation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
This bar-graph ranks California as the state with the highest employment figure of 2,110 for this particular occupation.