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The differences between crime scene technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a crime scene technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a crime scene technician has an average salary of $51,741, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a crime scene technician include biohazard, demolition and physical evidence. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Crime Scene Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,741 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $24.88 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 5,535 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Crime scene technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crime Scene Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,741 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $80,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a crime scene technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Crime Scene Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between crime scene technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Crime Scene Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.6% Female, 49.4% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 2% |