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Crime specialist vs forensic specialist

The differences between crime specialists and forensic specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a forensic specialist has an average salary of $51,653, 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 specialist are social work, encase, and criminal justice.

Crime specialist vs forensic specialist overview

Crime SpecialistForensic Specialist
Yearly salary$35,227$51,653
Hourly rate$16.94$24.83
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs1,2391,338
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

What does a crime specialist do?

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.

What does a forensic specialist do?

Forensic Specialists analyze and evaluate physical evidence using different analysis methods like chemical, instrumental, microscopic, and physical. They are sometimes required to work with blood and other biological fluids, hair, gunshot residue, etc. Forensic Specialist duties depend on their area of expertise. Some specialists spend their days in a lab; others spend their visiting crime scenes searching for evidence. No matter what specialization they're in, their core responsibilities are to collect, document, preserve, test, and report evidence that is then submitted to those in charge of the case.

Crime specialist vs forensic specialist salary

Crime specialists and forensic specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Crime SpecialistForensic Specialist
Average salary$35,227$51,653
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $47,000Between $33,000 And $79,000
Highest paying CitySalt Lake City, UTSanta Monica, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCollaberaQED Group
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between crime specialist and forensic specialist education

There are a few differences between a crime specialist and a forensic specialist in terms of educational background:

Crime SpecialistForensic Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Crime specialist vs forensic specialist demographics

Here are the differences between crime specialists' and forensic specialists' demographics:

Crime SpecialistForensic Specialist
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 35.1% Female, 64.9%Male, 49.1% Female, 50.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between crime specialist and forensic specialist duties and responsibilities

Crime specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage customer information in customer management systems CIV.
  • Lead major initiatives in 3concurrent roles successfully manage affluent personal and business portfolio to proactively cross-sell additional products and services.
  • Perform general account handling functions such as close account determination, holds, restraints, among other job responsibilities.
  • Navigate multiple systems for information to perform general account handling functions, such as closing accounts, holds, and restraints.
  • Update the organization about the current AML relate industry standards, procedures, and practices
  • Used decision making skills to process claims for debit card/ATM and ACH fraud claims.
  • Show more

Forensic specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage use and maintenance of company vehicle, surveying equip., cameras, and firearms.
  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Secure and track any DNA evidence submit for testing.
  • Examine evidence for the presence of biological material and collect potential DNA samples.
  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Assess for risk of suicide, homicide, psychosis and other safety concerns.
  • Show more

Crime specialist vs forensic specialist skills

Common crime specialist skills
  • Criminal Justice, 7%
  • Anti-Money Laundering, 7%
  • Secrecy, 6%
  • Bank Secrecy Act, 6%
  • AML, 6%
  • Direct Communication, 4%
Common forensic specialist skills
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Encase, 8%
  • Criminal Justice, 8%
  • Mental Health, 6%
  • Digital Forensics, 5%
  • Forensic Interviews, 5%

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