Average Salary of a Crime Scene Investigator Sure, the market is saturated, the interest inflated, the competition fierce, and the job description wholly overrated, but everyone wants to know what it's like to work (and get paid) as a crime scene investigator. Although "crime scene investigator" is not an official occupational definition, its popularity warrants its usage here. Below are some figures of average salaries for crime scene investigators, including a detailed list of specialized occupations within the field of crime scene investigation. Salary of a Crime Scene Investigator Often, salaries for crime scene investigators are too specific to be recognized by national statistical agencies, but many categories can subsume some suboccupations under main ones with a reasonable degree of accuracy. According to the US Department of Labor Statistics, "Detectives and Criminal Investigators" make a mean annual salary of $58,750, a median hourly salary of $26.82, and a mean hourly salary of $28.24. For a more detailed outlook on this occupation, visit the BLS's occupational profile. Real-Life Cases A five-year, real-life crime scene investigator, for the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services, as interviewed by Marketplace Money in 2005, says he is earning just over $52,000. When he first started 5 years ago, he was only making $30,000 (2 July 2005 Marketplace Money). The Pima County Sheriff's Department, according to the Arizona Daily Star, pays its forensic technicians a starting salary of roughly $530 per week (30 September 2002). While it's not all glamourous action, it may be at least constant action. According to 51 year-old John Kelly, who was interviewed by the Oregonian in 2004, said that he had to "interview the victims, go out to my car, change hats and come back in to take photos and fingerprints -- do the crime scene," as a daily routine in the life of a criminalist with the Gresham Police Department. Sample Job Description The The Liverpool Daily Post posted this ad as part of their Job of the Week appointments in 2004: "Chemical treatment officer, fingerprint department Based in laboratories in St Asaph, the post holder will have to examine, develop and record finger and palm impressions retrieved from crime scenes by carrying out scientific treatments and operating specialist equipment. Applicants will have to be educated to NVQ level three or equivalent qualification in chemistry or other relevant laboratory-based subjects and/or a minimum of three years" experience working in a chemical laboratory environment. Salary is between £15, 731 and £17, 444." The Westwego Police Department pays some of its newer crime scene investigators only $32,000 per year, and part of that goes towards equipment expenses. And what does it to pay Emmy-award-winning actor Gary Senise to play fictional CSI expert? According to estimates by the BPI Entertainment News Wire, approximately $120,000 to $150,000 an episode (BPI Entertainment News Wire, 18 March 2004). Requirements to Become a Crime Scene Investigator How does one go about becoming a crime scene investigator? Like most competitive careers, hard work, selfless determination, a driving passion and an unswerving sense of self-confidence don't hurt, but since the nature of CSI work comes highly specialized, CSI investigating requires an education, as well. Organizations offering certification in crime scene investigation: International Association for Identification more to come... For more employment resources, visit: American Academy of Forensic Sciences American Board of Forensic Odontology Biomet — The Biometric Resource Center Canadian Identification Society Fingerprint Society International Association for Identification FLETC - Federal Law Enforcement Training Center The Forensic Science Portal Forensic Identification Training & Consulting Michigan-Ontario Identification Association National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) Southern Association of Forensic Scientists Southern California Association of Fingerprint Officers Southwestern Association for Forensic Scientists (SWAFS) Assistant Chief Toxicologist: Salary: $100,356 per year. Biomedical Engineer     Biometrics Trainer: Salary: $100,000 / year Chief Medical Examiner Salary: $145,000 - $232,000. Controlled Substances Fellow: Salary:   Crime Lab Analyst I Salary: Salary: $16.75 - $21.44 Per Hour (see posting here) Crime Scene Analyst: Salary: $31.87 – $36.49/hour Crime Scene Technician Salary: $20.40 - 22.00/hr Criminalist     Criminalistics Supervisor Salary: $5,000 - $7,000 per month (full range) with benefits (see posting here) Crime Lab and Evidence Room Manager:     Crime Lab Director Salary: $58,000 - $76,000 Deputy Medical Examiner: Salary: $50,000 - $200,000 /year Directory of Forensic Science Training: Salary: $45,000 - $77,000. DNA Analyst:     DNA Technical Leader: Salary: $62,000 - $75,000 Evidence Custodian Salary: $86,400 to $144,000 Evidence Technician Salary: $29,000. Field Identification Specialist: Salary: $21.60 up to $26.03 Firearms Examiner: Salary: $2,000 - $5,000/month Fingerprint Technician: Salary: $30,000 to $46,000/year Firearms and Tool Mark Examiner: Salary: Level II $47,000; Level III $52,000 - $85,000 Forensic Autopsy Assistant Salary: $24.04 -- $29.08 per hour Forensic Autopsy Supervisor: Salary: $17.00 - $21.00/hourly Forensic Autopsy Technician Salary: $4,000 - $5,000/month Forensic Biologist: Salary: $46,000 - $64,000 Forensic Chemist:     Fire and Explosion Consultant     Firearms Examiner: Salary: $60,000— $83,000 Forensic Mechanical Engineer     Forensic Evidence Technician: Salary: $4,000 - $5,000 per month Forensic Geotechnical Engineer: Salary:   Forensic Lab Manager: Salary: $63,000 - $77,000. Forensic Mechanical Engineer     Forensic Pathologist/Associate Medical Examiner Salary: $120,000 - $163,000 Forensic Photographer     Forensic Print Analyst: Salary: $45,000 - $67,000 Forensic Regional Manager:     Forensic Scientist: Salary: From $35,000 to $52,000 (see posting here) Forensic Scientist - Chemistry: Salary: US $58,000 - US $73,000 Forensic Scientist — DNA     Forensic Services Manager/Police: Salary: $49,000 - $59,000 Forensic Structural Engineer: Salary:   Forensic Technologist - Trace Evidence: Salary: $746.00 - $1,022.00/week Instrumentation/Calibration Technician:     Lab Supervisor - Forensic Testing: Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 Latent Print Examiner Salary: $108,000 to $158,000 Latent Print Technician Salary: $33,000 - $50,000 per year (see posting here) Latent Print/Tire & Shoe Impression Examiner     Law Enforcement Training Officer: Salary: $22.00/hr. - $30.00/hr. MANAGERIAL CRIMINALIST, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES     MANAGERIAL CRIMINALIST, FIREARMS ANALYSIS     Museum Specialist:     Serologist Salary: $37,000. Supervisory DNA Anlayst:     Toxicologist: Salary: $6,000 per month. Trace Analyst Salary: $2,000 - $3,000 month Vehicle Constructionist Reconstructionist

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