Forensic Scientist

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Work Tasks

• Look for how and why a crime was committed
• Work with physical evidence from a crime scene such as blood, hair, clothing fibers, wood, soil, etc.
• Give information in court to prove or disprove criminal charges
• Look at fire arms, fingerprints, and poisons from a crime scene
• Work indoors in labs and also in offices to file reports on their findings
• Work with chemicals, microscopes, and lab equipment; blood, saliva, and other body fluids; hair, fibers, paint, glass, wood, soil, firearms, and tools; fingerprints, chromatographs, spectrographs, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $53,000 average per year ($25.50 per hour)
• A small occupation (12,400 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.0% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in biology or chemistry
• Employers Prefer: A Ph.D. degree
• Skills/Courses: College courses include biology, physics, chemistry, pharmacology, and firearms examination.
• Certification/Licensing: Certifications are available.