Becoming a Forensic 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 12,870 people employed as
forensic science technicians alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$55,070.
Detectives and criminal investigators make on average $65,860
per year and there are about 110,380
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 Forensic Scientist
- detective agency
- law enforcement office
- security agency
- company
- research center
- police station
- laboratory
- crime scene site
- hospital
- home (freelancer)
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Forensic Scientist
- next to a scientist
- feel important
- engrossing work
- gathering of evidence
- free innocent people
- time consuming
- high level of concentration
- secure job
- personal satisfaction
- help solve crimes
Potential Drawbacks
- emotionally challenging
- long hours
- need a heavy scientific background
- often work alone
- late hours
- under acknowledged
- court appearances
- a lot of education needed
- difficulty finding jobs
- no travel
Related Professions to Consider
- Forensic Chemistry Scientist
- Forensic Research Scientist
- Forensic Case File Manager
- Assistant Research Scientist
- Forensic Specialist
- Forensic Science Professor
- DNA Technician
- Software Engineer
- Physical Scientist
- Staff Scientist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Forensic Scientist
- What parts of your courses have you found most interesting and why?
- What do you know about our company?
- How good are your practical laboratory skills?
- Tell me about any projects you have done?
- How would you go about solving a problem?
- Can you work in a team with little supervision Give an example?
- How good are your computing skills?
- Give an example of where you have had to communicate effectively/Can you write reports?
- What benefits did you gain from your placement?
- What is your expectations about this job?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Forensic Reporting Officer
- Assistant Forensic Scientist
- Forensic Scientist
- Senior Forensic Scientist
- Forensic Biology Laboratory
- Senior Scientist
- Cyber Forensic Specialist
- Forensic Scientist
- Forensic DNA Reporting Scientist
- Senior Forensic Scientist
Forensic Scientist Training books
Forensic Scientist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Accounting
- Anthropology
- Biology General
- Chemistry
- Computer Forensics
- Criminal Justice
- Forensic Chemistry
- Forensic Science
- Genetics
- Archaeology
Forensic Scientist Salary Information
Category: Forensic science technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
12,870 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.47/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.59 |
$19.39 |
$24.75 |
$31.84 |
$40.51 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$55,070 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $32,420 |
$40,340 |
$51,480 |
$66,240 |
$84,260 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.6% |
17.5% |
23.9% |
12.6% |
29.7% |
9.4% |
4.2% |
|
Forensic science technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$39.4/hr
|
$81,950
|
| Maine |
$35.3/hr
|
$73,430
|
| Florida |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,870
|
| Kansas |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,350
|
| Colorado |
$32.06/hr
|
$66,690
|
| Massachusetts |
$29.6/hr
|
$61,570
|
| Mississippi |
$28.81/hr
|
$59,920
|
| Montana |
$27.07/hr
|
$56,300
|
| Connecticut |
$26.96/hr
|
$56,080
|
| South Carolina |
$26.47/hr
|
$55,060
|
| Indiana |
$26.41/hr
|
$54,940
|
| Tennessee |
$26.23/hr
|
$54,560
|
| New Jersey |
$25.95/hr
|
$53,970
|
| Arkansas |
$25.78/hr
|
$53,620
|
| Alabama |
$25.71/hr
|
$53,490
|
| Ohio |
$25.64/hr
|
$53,340
|
| South Dakota |
$25.01/hr
|
$52,030
|
| Iowa |
$24.66/hr
|
$51,290
|
| Idaho |
$24.51/hr
|
$50,980
|
| North Dakota |
$24.23/hr
|
$50,390
|
| Kentucky |
$23.08/hr
|
$48,010
|
| Wyoming |
$22.35/hr
|
$46,490
|
| Guam |
$22.16/hr
|
$46,090
|
| Wisconsin |
$22.08/hr
|
$45,920
|
| New Hampshire |
$21.74/hr
|
$45,210
|
| Hawaii |
$21.59/hr
|
$44,910
|
| Oregon |
$21.17/hr
|
$44,030
|
| Maryland |
$20.18/hr
|
$41,970
|
| New Mexico |
$19.76/hr
|
$41,090
|
| Washington |
$19.52/hr
|
$40,600
|
| California |
$18.89/hr
|
$39,280
|
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
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average 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: 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
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average 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: Police Detectives
| 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% |
|
