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Job Description

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 19-4092.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 60,690.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 29.00
Currently, there are 14,800 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Forensic Science Technicians”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Forensic Scientist”

Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
Examine physical evidence, such as hair, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.
Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.
Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.
Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.
Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information such as serial numbers.
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.
Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes.
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark.
Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings.
Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.
Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.

Related Technology & Tools

Biohazard suits
UV forensic goggles
Evidence scissors
Shovels
Optical compound microscopes
Electrostatic dust print lifters
Laser trajectory kits
Crime scene tape measures
Gel lifters
Sifting screens
Fingerprint brushes
Insect collection containers
Thermocyclers
Large format cameras
Distance measuring wheels
Self-contained breathing apparatus
35 millimeter cameras
Electronic measuring devices
Metal detectors
Medical hemostats
Digital video cameras
Footwear protectors
Navigational compasses
Insect swoop nets
Steel measuring tape
Hand held magnifiers
Photo markers
Portable generators
Photographic scales
Portable two way radios
Protective latex gloves
Fuming hot plates
Evidence collection containers
Stainless steel spatulas
Microscope slides
Stainless steel tweezers
Personal computers
Mobile data computers
Impression casting kits
Handheld digital thermometers
Body fluid collection kits
Ultraviolet UV camera lens filters
Fingerprint recognition systems
Pointed scalpels
Glassware washers
Steam sterilizers
Handheld evidence collection computers
Laboratory benchtop centrifuges
Spectrophotometers
Reciprocating saws
Protective masks
Crime scene evidence flags
Sexual assault evidence collection kits
Rounded scalpels
Long-wave ultraviolet UV lamps
Postmortem print spoons
Stainless steel scissors
Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits
Plastic specimen jars
Desktop computers
Fingerprint evidence kits
Safety glasses
Glass specimen jars
Police vans
Colored camera filters
Digital cameras
Breathalyzers
Infrared light sources
Blood collection kits
Portable lasers
Laptop computers
Protractors
Drug testing kits
Spades
Gunshot residue kits
Benchtop mixers
Plastic evidence tweezers
Ultraviolet UV lights
Utility knives
Electronic precision balances
Inspection mirrors
Cyanoacrylate fuming chambers

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Microsoft Outlook
Midwest Information Systems PAX-it
DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
Mideo Systems EZDoc Plus
National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
Combined DNA Index System CODIS
SmartDraw.com SmartDraw Legal
IBM Notes
Visual Statement Vista FX3 CSI
The CAD Zone The Crime Zone
National Crime Information Center NCIC database
Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Web browser software
Trancite Logic Systems ScenePD
Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
Microsoft Access
Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
Automated Biometric Identification System ABIS
DM2 Bills of Lading
Graphics software
DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Office
Eos Systems PhotoModeler
Microsoft Excel
Laboratory information management system LIMS
Image enhancement software
Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS