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The differences between crime specialists 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 specialist and a forensic computer examiner. Additionally, a forensic computer examiner has an average salary of $66,393, 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 forensic computer examiner are digital forensics, extraction, and FTK.
| Crime Specialist | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Yearly salary | $35,227 | $66,393 |
| Hourly rate | $16.94 | $31.92 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 1,239 | 16,108 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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.
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 specialists and forensic computer examiners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crime Specialist | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Average salary | $35,227 | $66,393 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $47,000 | Between $46,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salt Lake City, UT | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Collabera | Booz Allen Hamilton |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a crime specialist and a forensic computer examiner in terms of educational background:
| Crime Specialist | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between crime specialists' and forensic computer examiners' demographics:
| Crime Specialist | Forensic Computer Examiner | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% |
| 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, 9.9% 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% |