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The differences between crime specialists and criminalists 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 specialist and a criminalist. Additionally, a criminalist has an average salary of $68,152, which is higher than the $35,227 average annual salary of a crime specialist.
The top three skills for a crime specialist include criminal justice, anti-money laundering and secrecy. The most important skills for a criminalist are physical evidence, laboratory reports, and body fluids.
| Crime Specialist | Criminalist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,227 | $68,152 |
| Hourly rate | $16.94 | $32.77 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 1,239 | 14,872 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The duties of a Crime Specialist usually depend on their place of employment. Their responsibilities include visiting crime scenes, gathering and analyzing pieces of evidence, conducting interviews with witnesses, utilizing forensic equipment and techniques, taking photographs or videos, and preparing reports and other paperwork. They may also attend court hearings, provide insights, and train new members of the workforce. Crime Specialists work together with law enforcement, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A criminalist works in the forensic science or law enforcement field. Their duties depend upon the agency or place they work for, but they are often responsible for conducting crime investigations, studying crime scenes, gathering and examining evidence, processing evidence, and coordinating with investigators. They must also prepare and process documents, present detailed results and reports to investigators, and sometimes testify in court.
Crime specialists and criminalists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crime Specialist | Criminalist | |
| Average salary | $35,227 | $68,152 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $47,000 | Between $36,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salt Lake City, UT | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Collabera | City of Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a crime specialist and a criminalist in terms of educational background:
| Crime Specialist | Criminalist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between crime specialists' and criminalists' demographics:
| Crime Specialist | Criminalist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% | Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |