Becoming a Criminal Scientist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Saint Leo University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering forensic science courses to train individuals to become top-notch forensic science technicians, forensics specialists, crime scene forensics specialists, forensic scientists, detectives, forensics professionals, crime scene forensics professionals, police detectives, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 556,790 people employed as lawyers alone in America, and their average annual salary is $129,020. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers make on average $87,620 per year and there are about 13,140 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Saint Leo University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Criminal Scientist
  • Universities
  • Government Organizations
  • Correctional Facilities
  • Police Departments
  • Community Colleges
  • Warden's Offices
  • Police Academies
  • Statistical Organizations
  • Census bureaus
  • Prisons
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Criminal Scientist
  • Working for federal or state crime laboratories
  • Working in a crime lab
  • Serving your country
  • Establishing their own consulting businesses
  • Sick leave medical insurance and pension plans
  • Cleaning well-equipped laboratories
  • Being exposed to fumes and odors from decaying remains
  • Working with poisons
  • Working well-paid hours
  • The ability to collaborate with many others
Potential Drawbacks
  • Have the ability to testify in court
  • Must have a clean background
  • Available day and night in some jobs
  • Be level-headed in unpleasant situations at times
  • Have the ability to gather and analyze evidence
  • Keeping up with the latest technology
  • Facing budget and staffing issues
  • Have the ability to write accurate reports
  • Struggle with ethical issues
  • Must be familiar with various types of equipment
Related Professions to Consider
  • Atmospheric Scientists
  • Regulatory Affairs Scientists
  • Biological/Medical Scientists
  • Analytical Scientist Consultants
  • Counter Operations Scientists
  • Senior Mental Health Services Researchers
  • Researchers
  • Environmental Field Technicians
  • Research Scientists
  • Senior Remote Sensing/Algorithm Scientists
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Criminal Scientist
  • Why are you interested in this company and in the position?
  • What is your education level?
  • What is one of your greatest accomplishments?
  • Why do you want this job?
  • What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What have you done to improve yourself?
  • Can you multi-task?
  • What time of day do you consider oneself productive?
  • Can you describe a time when you have had to work on your own and had to use your own initiative to succeed?
  • How would your former boss or peers describe you?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Behavioral Analysts
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Crime Analysts
  • Management Analysts
  • Criminologists
  • Police Officers
  • Laboratory Technicians
  • Information Technologists
  • Forensic Scientists
  • Statistical and Data Resources
Criminal Scientist Training books Criminal Scientist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Corrections
  • Court Reporting
  • Crime Scene investigation
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economic Crime
  • Homeland Security
  • Justice Administration
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Public Safety

Criminal Scientist Salary Information

Category: Lawyers

Total # Employed in the US 556,790
Average Hourly Wage: $62.03/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$26.57 $36.67 $54.44 $0.0 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $129,020
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$55,270 $76,270 $113,240 $0 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.1% 0.5% 0.8% 0.3% 2.5% 3.0% 92.8%
Lawyers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $75.36/hr $156,750
Oklahoma $73.42/hr $152,710
District of Columbia $73.22/hr $152,300
Colorado $73.06/hr $151,970
Idaho $68.72/hr $142,930
Kansas $66.15/hr $137,590
Utah $63.03/hr $131,100
Wyoming $62.91/hr $130,850
Mississippi $62.13/hr $129,240
Nebraska $61.89/hr $128,730
Delaware $60.77/hr $126,390
Missouri $60.57/hr $125,990
North Dakota $60.37/hr $125,560
New York $59.68/hr $124,130
Connecticut $59.14/hr $123,010
Guam $57.77/hr $120,150
Oregon $57.18/hr $118,930
Virginia $56.48/hr $117,490
Wisconsin $56.44/hr $117,400
Alabama $56.44/hr $117,390
Montana $54.77/hr $113,930
Hawaii $54.51/hr $113,380
Arkansas $54.27/hr $112,870
New Hampshire $54.03/hr $112,380
Washington $52.11/hr $108,390
South Carolina $50.73/hr $105,520
Alaska $50.47/hr $104,970
Louisiana $49.23/hr $102,390
California $48.37/hr $100,620
Maine $47.77/hr $99,350
Maryland $47.19/hr $98,160
New Mexico $46.98/hr $97,710
Tennessee $46.42/hr $96,560
North Carolina $45.87/hr $95,410
Pennsylvania $45.7/hr $95,060
Indiana $45.59/hr $94,830
Puerto Rico $45.55/hr $94,750
Massachusetts $45.41/hr $94,450
Michigan $45.01/hr $93,620
Kentucky $44.97/hr $93,540
South Dakota $43.79/hr $91,080
Ohio $43.35/hr $90,160
Iowa $43.09/hr $89,620
Nevada $42.48/hr $88,360
West Virginia $40.74/hr $84,730
New Jersey $35.5/hr $73,850


Category: Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers

Total # Employed in the US 13,140
Average Hourly Wage: $42.13/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$19.3 $27.19 $40.35 $55.16 $73.3
Average Yearly Salary $87,620
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$40,150 $56,550 $83,920 $114,730 $152,460
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.1% 0.5% 0.8% 0.3% 2.5% 3.0% 92.8%
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Mississippi $56.65/hr $117,830
Alabama $55.99/hr $116,460
Colorado $53.06/hr $110,370
Nebraska $51.93/hr $108,010
Maine $50.31/hr $104,650
North Dakota $49.56/hr $103,090
Montana $47.03/hr $97,830
Virginia $46.78/hr $97,300
New Hampshire $45.28/hr $94,190
Idaho $44.44/hr $92,430
Oregon $44.1/hr $91,740
Pennsylvania $42.58/hr $88,560
California $41.39/hr $86,100
Arkansas $41.29/hr $85,890
Kentucky $41.26/hr $85,830
Ohio $40.78/hr $84,830
Wisconsin $40.37/hr $83,970
Alaska $40.29/hr $83,790
Wyoming $39.99/hr $83,170
Nevada $39.68/hr $82,540
New Mexico $39.6/hr $82,360
South Carolina $37.85/hr $78,740
South Dakota $37.1/hr $77,160
Washington $36.39/hr $75,690
Guam $36.38/hr $75,680
Utah $35.87/hr $74,610
Kansas $35.68/hr $74,220
Massachusetts $34.33/hr $71,400
Iowa $33.62/hr $69,930
Tennessee $33.6/hr $69,880
New Jersey $33.17/hr $68,990
New York $32.32/hr $67,230
District of Columbia $30.09/hr $62,580
Michigan $29.69/hr $61,760
North Carolina $26.3/hr $54,700


Category: Bailiffs

Total # Employed in the US 17,140
Average Hourly Wage: $19.35/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.82 $12.86 $18.25 $25.83 $31.83
Average Yearly Salary $40,240
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$18,340 $26,740 $37,950 $53,730 $66,210
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.9% 36.3% 37.1% 12.3% 10.9% 1.2% 0.3%
Bailiffs — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $26.05/hr $54,180
Colorado $24.93/hr $51,850
New York $24.42/hr $50,800
Hawaii $21.94/hr $45,640
Connecticut $21.04/hr $43,770
New Mexico $20.64/hr $42,930
Montana $19.64/hr $40,860
Wyoming $19.55/hr $40,650
Guam $18.96/hr $39,430
South Carolina $18.54/hr $38,550
Tennessee $18.24/hr $37,940
Alabama $16.59/hr $34,500
Maine $16.35/hr $34,010
Oregon $16.21/hr $33,720
Ohio $16.07/hr $33,430
Nebraska $16.06/hr $33,390
Mississippi $16/hr $33,280
Arkansas $15.81/hr $32,890
Iowa $15.67/hr $32,590
Kentucky $15.26/hr $31,730
New Hampshire $15.15/hr $31,510
California $14.96/hr $31,110
Massachusetts $14.74/hr $30,660
North Carolina $14.7/hr $30,580
South Dakota $14.28/hr $29,700
Michigan $14.27/hr $29,670
Wisconsin $13.89/hr $28,890
Utah $13.34/hr $27,750
North Dakota $13.29/hr $27,650
Washington $12.41/hr $25,820
Maryland $10.88/hr $22,640
New Jersey $10.66/hr $22,170
Nevada $10.07/hr $20,950
Idaho $9.72/hr $20,210
West Virginia $8.88/hr $18,480
Pennsylvania $8.13/hr $16,900


Category: Correctional officers and jailers

Total # Employed in the US 455,350
Average Hourly Wage: $20.49/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.48 $15.0 $18.78 $25.12 $31.18
Average Yearly Salary $42,610
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$25,960 $31,210 $39,050 $52,240 $64,850
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.9% 36.3% 37.1% 12.3% 10.9% 1.2% 0.3%
Correctional officers and jailers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $32.08/hr $66,720
North Dakota $29.98/hr $62,350
New York $27.21/hr $56,600
Oklahoma $25.77/hr $53,600
Kansas $24.78/hr $51,530
Virginia $24.09/hr $50,110
Montana $23.83/hr $49,560
Alaska $23.71/hr $49,310
Tennessee $22.89/hr $47,610
Indiana $22.68/hr $47,170
Connecticut $22.19/hr $46,160
Mississippi $21.95/hr $45,650
Utah $21.34/hr $44,390
Nebraska $21.04/hr $43,760
Louisiana $20.24/hr $42,090
Florida $19.45/hr $40,450
Guam $19.21/hr $39,960
South Carolina $18.79/hr $39,080
Hawaii $18.78/hr $39,060
Arkansas $18.72/hr $38,930
North Carolina $18.5/hr $38,480
Ohio $17.7/hr $36,810
Michigan $16.24/hr $33,780
Iowa $16.1/hr $33,490
Massachusetts $16.08/hr $33,440
Alabama $16.06/hr $33,400
West Virginia $16.02/hr $33,330
Wyoming $15.99/hr $33,250
Pennsylvania $15.53/hr $32,310
Maine $15.41/hr $32,060
Kentucky $15.36/hr $31,940
Wisconsin $15.3/hr $31,820
Washington $15.28/hr $31,770
New Jersey $15.14/hr $31,490
Oregon $15.09/hr $31,390
New Mexico $14.88/hr $30,950
California $14.83/hr $30,850
Idaho $14.5/hr $30,160
Maryland $14.01/hr $29,130
New Hampshire $13.97/hr $29,060
South Dakota $13.39/hr $27,850
Nevada $12.34/hr $25,670


Category: Detectives and criminal investigators

Total # Employed in the US 110,380
Average Hourly Wage: $31.66/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$18.25 $22.63 $29.86 $40.22 $48.07
Average Yearly Salary $65,860
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$37,960 $47,070 $62,110 $83,650 $99,980
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.5% 10.0% 25.9% 12.1% 40.2% 9.6% 1.8%
Detectives and criminal investigators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $45.49/hr $94,620
North Dakota $41.31/hr $85,930
Colorado $38.53/hr $80,140
District of Columbia $37.48/hr $77,960
Mississippi $37.46/hr $77,910
Indiana $36.84/hr $76,640
Kansas $36.71/hr $76,360
Alaska $35.91/hr $74,690
Delaware $34.98/hr $72,750
Connecticut $34.93/hr $72,650
New York $33.8/hr $70,310
Montana $33.64/hr $69,970
Missouri $33.64/hr $69,980
Utah $33.12/hr $68,890
Oklahoma $32.95/hr $68,530
Tennessee $32.88/hr $68,400
Virginia $32.69/hr $68,000
Nebraska $31.47/hr $65,450
South Carolina $30.87/hr $64,220
North Carolina $30.76/hr $63,980
Hawaii $30.75/hr $63,960
Louisiana $30.23/hr $62,890
Guam $30.01/hr $62,410
Puerto Rico $29.87/hr $62,130
New Jersey $29.54/hr $61,430
Pennsylvania $28.44/hr $59,160
New Mexico $28.36/hr $58,980
Wyoming $28.23/hr $58,720
West Virginia $27.54/hr $57,280
Iowa $27.53/hr $57,260
Arkansas $27.51/hr $57,230
Maryland $27.24/hr $56,660
Michigan $26.46/hr $55,040
Maine $26.34/hr $54,780
Ohio $26.27/hr $54,650
Alabama $26.13/hr $54,340
New Hampshire $26.06/hr $54,210
Wisconsin $26.05/hr $54,180
Idaho $25.73/hr $53,530
Kentucky $25.65/hr $53,350
South Dakota $24.95/hr $51,890
Massachusetts $24.95/hr $51,890
Washington $24.71/hr $51,400
California $24.71/hr $51,400
Oregon $23.2/hr $48,250
Nevada $22.63/hr $47,080


Category: Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Total # Employed in the US 641,590
Average Hourly Wage: $26.53/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.09 $19.45 $25.58 $32.69 $40.17
Average Yearly Salary $55,180
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$31,400 $40,450 $53,210 $67,990 $83,550
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.9% 16.0% 33.8% 17.3% 27.1% 4.3% 0.6%
Police and sheriff's patrol officers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $37.83/hr $78,690
North Dakota $37.34/hr $77,660
Florida $32.61/hr $67,830
Kansas $31.76/hr $66,050
New York $30.99/hr $64,460
Alaska $29.66/hr $61,700
Oklahoma $28.93/hr $60,180
Delaware $28.78/hr $59,860
Connecticut $28.75/hr $59,790
Arkansas $28.1/hr $58,450
Tennessee $27.4/hr $56,990
District of Columbia $27.26/hr $56,710
Mississippi $27.16/hr $56,500
Missouri $26.72/hr $55,580
Nebraska $26.19/hr $54,470
Indiana $26.01/hr $54,110
Hawaii $25.95/hr $53,970
Utah $25.55/hr $53,140
Virginia $25.12/hr $52,240
South Carolina $25.11/hr $52,240
Montana $24.65/hr $51,270
Wyoming $23.86/hr $49,620
North Carolina $22.78/hr $47,380
Kentucky $22.25/hr $46,270
Louisiana $22.12/hr $46,020
Guam $21.93/hr $45,610
Iowa $21.85/hr $45,440
New Mexico $21.36/hr $44,430
Ohio $20.88/hr $43,430
New Hampshire $20.64/hr $42,940
New Jersey $20.54/hr $42,720
Pennsylvania $20.51/hr $42,660
Maine $20.34/hr $42,310
Puerto Rico $20.31/hr $42,250
Wisconsin $19.65/hr $40,870
Michigan $19.51/hr $40,570
Oregon $19.43/hr $40,420
West Virginia $19.26/hr $40,060
Alabama $19.22/hr $39,970
Idaho $18.93/hr $39,370
Maryland $18.38/hr $38,230
Washington $18.11/hr $37,660
Massachusetts $18.06/hr $37,560
South Dakota $17.58/hr $36,560
California $17.33/hr $36,050
Nevada $14.99/hr $31,170


Category: Transit and railroad police

Total # Employed in the US 3,930
Average Hourly Wage: $25.17/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16.51 $19.52 $24.49 $30.67 $36.15
Average Yearly Salary $52,350
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$34,330 $40,600 $50,940 $63,800 $75,180
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.9% 16.0% 33.8% 17.3% 27.1% 4.3% 0.6%
Transit and railroad police — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Utah $30.07/hr $62,550
Kentucky $28.74/hr $59,780
Kansas $27.01/hr $56,170
Massachusetts $24.97/hr $51,950
Wyoming $24.17/hr $50,280
Missouri $24.03/hr $49,980
Colorado $23.29/hr $48,430
New Hampshire $22.98/hr $47,810
Hawaii $21.68/hr $45,090
Wisconsin $21.53/hr $44,780
Mississippi $19.79/hr $41,170


Category: Private detectives and investigators

Total # Employed in the US 31,250
Average Hourly Wage: $22.66/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$11.88 $15.45 $20.25 $27.84 $36.52
Average Yearly Salary $47,130
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24,700 $32,140 $42,110 $57,910 $75,970
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.4% 14.1% 24.1% 10.6% 37.4% 9.6% 2.7%
Private detectives and investigators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Ohio $31.12/hr $64,730
North Dakota $29.69/hr $61,750
Alaska $28.68/hr $59,650
District of Columbia $28.57/hr $59,430
Colorado $28.19/hr $58,630
California $26.4/hr $54,910
Louisiana $25.85/hr $53,770
Maine $24.63/hr $51,240
New York $24.59/hr $51,140
Oklahoma $23.74/hr $49,390
Wyoming $22.86/hr $47,550
Utah $22.4/hr $46,590
Hawaii $22.35/hr $46,490
Kansas $22.3/hr $46,380
Mississippi $22.1/hr $45,960
South Dakota $22.02/hr $45,800
Delaware $21.57/hr $44,860
Virginia $21.36/hr $44,430
Connecticut $21.26/hr $44,220
Montana $21.2/hr $44,100
South Carolina $21.03/hr $43,740
Nevada $20.93/hr $43,530
Oregon $20.84/hr $43,350
Kentucky $20.83/hr $43,320
Tennessee $20.59/hr $42,840
Arkansas $20.29/hr $42,210
Wisconsin $19.87/hr $41,330
Alabama $19.85/hr $41,280
Idaho $19.41/hr $40,380
Nebraska $19.13/hr $39,800
North Carolina $18.99/hr $39,500
Guam $18.96/hr $39,430
New Hampshire $18.58/hr $38,650
Washington $18.38/hr $38,240
Massachusetts $18.19/hr $37,840
Iowa $18.18/hr $37,820
Michigan $17.95/hr $37,330
Missouri $17.81/hr $37,050
Maryland $16.5/hr $34,310
Pennsylvania $14.51/hr $30,170
West Virginia $13.34/hr $27,740


Category: Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators

Total # Employed in the US 7,670
Average Hourly Wage: $15.6/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.77 $11.56 $14.53 $18.78 $23.44
Average Yearly Salary $32,460
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20,320 $24,050 $30,220 $39,060 $48,760
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
10.0% 36.3% 29.3% 9.7% 12.1% 2.1% 0.5%
Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Kentucky $20.73/hr $43,120
Colorado $18.47/hr $38,410
Delaware $17.32/hr $36,020
Montana $17.12/hr $35,610
New York $17.1/hr $35,570
North Dakota $16.74/hr $34,820
Nevada $16.66/hr $34,660
Maine $16.6/hr $34,530
Connecticut $15.85/hr $32,970
Kansas $15.8/hr $32,850
Alabama $15.38/hr $31,980
Arkansas $15.36/hr $31,950
Massachusetts $14.53/hr $30,220
Hawaii $14.22/hr $29,570
Utah $14.13/hr $29,390
District of Columbia $14.07/hr $29,260
Louisiana $13.72/hr $28,530
New Hampshire $13.63/hr $28,360
Tennessee $13.61/hr $28,310
Ohio $13.48/hr $28,040
Oklahoma $13.43/hr $27,940
South Dakota $13/hr $27,040
West Virginia $11.5/hr $23,920
New Jersey $11.08/hr $23,040


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