How to become a crime scene investigator

Do I need to be a police officer before I can be a CSI? The short answer is no, CSI’s are both sworn police officers and civilians. The longer answer is that most CSI’s are sworn officers, but there is a large number of civilians doing the same job.

After initial training on the job, crime scene investigators continue learning on the job. Those with skill and experience are highly regarded by police. Breaking into the field can be difficult because of the number of applicants for each opening, especially in desirable locations.

Simply, criminal investigators do carry guns, and conduct investigations at crimes scenes; forensic specialists typically do not carry weapons unless they are primarily sworn officers or agents with a special skill such as computer forensics, polygraph examination, or specialized interview techniques that are employed

The analysts who work in the crime lab and even those who gather evidence from the scene after a crime are generally not in these high-risk circumstances or in close contact with suspects. As a result, CSI careers are less dangerous than those of police officers and detectives.

Whether it’s CSI New York, CSI Miami, the original or whatever, they all have one thing in common: they show how cool crime scene investigators are. But being one is not all fun and games, actually it’s almost never games, and only sometimes fun. If you’re below average, you can’t be a CSI.

Average National Pay

Half of all forensic crime scene investigators earned between $19.46 and $32.83 per hour and reported salaries ranging from $40,470 to $68,290 per year. The highest-paid 10 percent of forensic science technicians made $40.97 or more per hour and $85,210 per year.

Salary and Career Outlook

According to data from the BLS, crime scene investigators and forensic science technicians earn a median yearly salary of $60,590, with the top 10% of earners making more than $100,910.

Employment of forensic science technicians is projected to grow 14 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 2,400 new jobs over the 10-year period. Competition for jobs is expected to be strong.

Pros of forensic science lie in the job outlook and salary potential for the career. The BLS provided an estimate of 14 percent job growth through 2028. While the average salary was $63,170, the BLS mentioned that the highest-paid forensic scientists made over $97,350 in May 2019.

This 14 percent growth rate represents 2,400 new jobs. While not all of these jobs will be specific to crime scene investigation, some portion certainly will. Because of the popularity of the field, it is likely that those who enter it will find stiff competition for jobs.

People interested in becoming criminologists usually pursue a minimum of a master’s degree in the field. You could start with a baccalaureate degree in criminology, psychology or sociology. Criminologists also need to understand laws and law enforcement procedures, so you may take criminal justice courses, as well.

The Basics

The training includes over 800 hours, including a variety of web-based courses, in four major concentrations: academics, case exercises, firearms training, and operational skills. Currently, new agent training lasts approximately 20 weeks.

According to the FBI website, the organization’s Criminal Investigative Division “coordinates, manages and directs investigative programs focused on financial crime, violent crime, organized crime, public corruption, violations of individual civil rights, drug-related crime, and informant matters associated with these

Becoming an FBI Agent is a tremendously difficult and competitive process. It takes years of time, planning, and hard work to mold yourself into the kind of candidate the FBI is looking to hire. It’s not going to happen overnight, and the hiring process itself can take a year or longer.

You’ve trained regularly to maintain your excellent physical condition, and you’ve got the required education. The FBI does have strict rules on physical appearance, especially during training, but they don’t specifically ban all tattoos.