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The differences between crime scene technicians and forensic computer examiners 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 technician and a forensic computer examiner. Additionally, a forensic computer examiner has an average salary of $66,393, which is higher than the $51,741 average annual salary of a crime scene technician.
The top three skills for a crime scene technician include biohazard, demolition and physical evidence. The most important skills for a forensic computer examiner are digital forensics, extraction, and FTK.
| Crime Scene Technician | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Yearly salary | $51,741 | $66,393 |
| Hourly rate | $24.88 | $31.92 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 5,535 | 16,108 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A crime scene technician specializes in gathering and processing evidence from crime scenes. They must visit and closely examine crime scenes, find potential clues, gather fingerprints and DNA samples, take photos and videos, recreate the crime scene through sketches or computerized models, and keep records. They also conduct laboratory analyses to process evidence and report results to investigators. They may sometimes have to testify at court, where they must present their findings objectively and clearly.
With the arrival of the computer age came a plethora of crimes. Forensic computer examiners collect and analyze data to uncover and prosecute electronic fraud, scams, and identify theft. As a forensic computer examiner, you will tackle cyber-crimes. In doing this, you must adhere strictly to the standards of evidence gathering found in general forensic science, being that legal cases depend on the integrity of evidence. Investigative and report writing skills will also be much-needed assets.
Crime scene technicians and forensic computer examiners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crime Scene Technician | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Average salary | $51,741 | $66,393 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $80,000 | Between $46,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Booz Allen Hamilton |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a crime scene technician and a forensic computer examiner in terms of educational background:
| Crime Scene Technician | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between crime scene technicians' and forensic computer examiners' demographics:
| Crime Scene Technician | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.6% Female, 49.4% | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |