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The differences between crime scene specialists and forensic scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crime scene specialist and a forensic scientist. Additionally, a forensic scientist has an average salary of $71,351, which is higher than the $58,467 average annual salary of a crime scene specialist.
The top three skills for a crime scene specialist include physical evidence, evidence collection and patrol. The most important skills for a forensic scientist are laboratory equipment, physical evidence, and analytical procedures.
| Crime Scene Specialist | Forensic Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,467 | $71,351 |
| Hourly rate | $28.11 | $34.30 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 283 | 43,335 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Crime scene specialists and forensic scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crime Scene Specialist | Forensic Scientist | |
| Average salary | $58,467 | $71,351 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $92,000 | Between $45,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Lincoln, NE |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Alere |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a crime scene specialist and a forensic scientist in terms of educational background:
| Crime Scene Specialist | Forensic Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Biology |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between crime scene specialists' and forensic scientists' demographics:
| Crime Scene Specialist | Forensic Scientist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |