Careers · Explore one path
Forensic Science Technicians
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.
Other titles employers use
Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst) · Crime Scene Analyst (CSA) · Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech) · Criminalist · CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) · Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech) · Forensic Science Examiner · Forensic Scientist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, practical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
Subjects to know
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.0 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.3 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 36%
- High school or less 30%
- A master's degree 19%
- A four-year degree 15%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Operating system software
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Process mapping and design software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,770
- Job openings each year
- 350
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 18.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2,770 | 350 | 18.9% |
| California | 2,600 | 320 | 18.2% |
| Texas | 2,530 | 330 | 22.2% |
| New York | 960 | 20 | 21.5% |
| Georgia | 650 | 80 | 16.1% |
| Virginia | 630 | 80 | 14.5% |
| North Carolina | 610 | 80 | 24.5% |
| Michigan | 590 | 70 | 7.3% |
| Colorado | 530 | 70 | 26.2% |
| Ohio | 530 | 70 | 12.8% |
| Maryland | 520 | 70 | 18.2% |
| Washington | 470 | 70 | 20.5% |
| Nevada | 460 | 60 | 15.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 440 | 60 | 12.8% |
| Indiana | 320 | 40 | 10.3% |
| Tennessee | 320 | 40 | 18.5% |
| Missouri | 310 | 40 | 10.7% |
| Louisiana | 290 | 40 | 16.0% |
| Arizona | 280 | 40 | 12.0% |
| Wisconsin | 280 | 40 | 12.0% |
| Oregon | 270 | 40 | 22.7% |
| Utah | 260 | 30 | 30.0% |
| Kansas | 250 | 30 | 13.6% |
| Oklahoma | 220 | 30 | 10.0% |
| New Mexico | 210 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Alabama | 190 | 20 | 11.8% |
| Minnesota | 170 | 20 | 13.3% |
| South Carolina | 160 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Mississippi | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Nebraska | 120 | 20 | 9.1% |
| Idaho | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| West Virginia | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Connecticut | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| Iowa | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Massachusetts | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| New Jersey | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Montana | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Wyoming | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Alaska | 50 | 10 | — |
| Kentucky | 50 | 10 | 25.0% |
| New Hampshire | 50 | 10 | — |
| Maine | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| North Dakota | 30 | 0 | 50.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Degrees each year
- 1,582
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 1,549
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 1,471
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 1,397
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
University of South Florida
- Degrees each year
- 1,308
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 991
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
University of Florida
- Degrees each year
- 919
- Admit rate
- 24%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Florida State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,014
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000