Computer forensics technician vs forensic investigator

The differences between computer forensics technicians and forensic investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a computer forensics technician and a forensic investigator. Additionally, a forensic investigator has an average salary of $52,267, which is higher than the $50,698 average annual salary of a computer forensics technician.

The top three skills for a computer forensics technician include extraction, physical evidence and digital evidence. The most important skills for a forensic investigator are incident response, windows, and FTK.

Computer forensics technician vs forensic investigator overview

	Computer Forensics Technician	Forensic Investigator
Yearly salary	$50,698	$52,267
Hourly rate	$24.37	$25.13
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	19,018	5,032
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

What does a computer forensics technician do?

A Computer Forensics Technician investigates cases from a digital perspective. They specialize in gathering and analyzing digital evidence from devices such as computers, flash drives, cell phones, tablets, and other technologies. There are also instances where they use special software and tools, recover or retrieve files, and unseal documents while adhering to government laws and regulations. When it comes to employment, they may work for government agencies, law enforcement, or even private investigators.

What does a forensic investigator do?

A forensic investigator is responsible for collecting evidence and pieces of a clue to solve a complicated incident. A forensic investigator must have strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to handle various cases that would require intensive research and scientific principles application. Forensic investigators usually work closely with law enforcement personnel to identify all possible sources and secure evidence for further examination. They also study the scene where the incident happened, document observations, creating investigation reports, and communicating with several witnesses that would support possible claims.

Computer forensics technician vs forensic investigator salary

Computer forensics technicians and forensic investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Computer Forensics Technician	Forensic Investigator
Average salary	$50,698	$52,267
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $65,000	Between $27,000 And $98,000
Highest paying City	Lincoln, NE	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	Los Alamos National Laboratory	-
Best paying industry	Government	-

Differences between computer forensics technician and forensic investigator education

There are a few differences between a computer forensics technician and a forensic investigator in terms of educational background:

	Computer Forensics Technician	Forensic Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Computer forensics technician vs forensic investigator demographics

Here are the differences between computer forensics technicians' and forensic investigators' demographics:

	Computer Forensics Technician	Forensic Investigator
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 47.1% Female, 52.9%	Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between computer forensics technician and forensic investigator duties and responsibilities

Computer forensics technician example responsibilities.

Set up and manage all Linux labs campus-wide.
Identify, collect, preserve and impound evidence including developing fingerprints and/or footprints and collecting DNA and stain evidence.
Train employees and subcontractors on the use, maintenance and troubleshooting of genetic analysis and real-time PCR system instrumentation and software.
Compose comprehensive DNA analysis reports.
Increase customer satisfaction by validating a more sensitive extraction method which produce more informative results.
Serve statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, orders to pay alimony, and other court orders.

Forensic investigator example responsibilities.

Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
Prepare investigative reports, scientific forensic analysis reports and other documents in support of civil litigation.
Perform in-depth forensic analysis of Macintosh computer hard drives and prepare expert report for use in ongoing litigation.
Prepare affidavits of information and apply for investigative or grand jury subpoenas and other legal orders necessary for a thorough investigation.
Present to schools, community organizations, and local corporations prevention techniques in a PowerPoint format.
Evaluate impressions for AFIS (automate fingerprint identification system) potential.

Computer forensics technician vs forensic investigator skills

Common computer forensics technician skills

Extraction, 21%
Physical Evidence, 12%
Digital Evidence, 11%
Laboratory Equipment, 8%
Maintenance Logs, 8%
Immunoassay, 5%

Common forensic investigator skills

Incident Response, 17%
Windows, 12%
FTK, 11%
Litigation, 8%
Physical Evidence, 6%
Digital Evidence, 5%

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Computer Forensics Technician
Computer Forensics Technician vs Forensic Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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