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Criminalist vs forensic toxicologist

The differences between criminalists and forensic toxicologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a criminalist and a forensic toxicologist. Additionally, a forensic toxicologist has an average salary of $70,179, which is higher than the $68,152 average annual salary of a criminalist.

The top three skills for a criminalist include physical evidence, laboratory reports and body fluids. The most important skills for a forensic toxicologist are ms, laboratory equipment, and GC.

Criminalist vs forensic toxicologist overview

CriminalistForensic Toxicologist
Yearly salary$68,152$70,179
Hourly rate$32.77$33.74
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs14,872807
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

Criminalist vs forensic toxicologist salary

Criminalists and forensic toxicologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

CriminalistForensic Toxicologist
Average salary$68,152$70,179
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $127,000Between $39,000 And $123,000
Highest paying CitySan Mateo, CA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyCity of Los Angeles-
Best paying industry--

Differences between criminalist and forensic toxicologist education

There are a few differences between a criminalist and a forensic toxicologist in terms of educational background:

CriminalistForensic Toxicologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Criminalist vs forensic toxicologist demographics

Here are the differences between criminalists' and forensic toxicologists' demographics:

CriminalistForensic Toxicologist
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 35.9% Female, 64.1%Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between criminalist and forensic toxicologist duties and responsibilities

Criminalist example responsibilities.

  • Perform bone processing and DNA extraction from human remains.
  • Perform restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and PCR analysis.
  • Perform preventive maintenance on GC instruments and maintain preventive maintenance records in binders and LIMS.
  • Analyze controlled and non-control drugs using FTIR, GC/MS, GC/FID, and HPLC methods.
  • Analyze samples for the presence or absence of control substances using GC-MS, FTIR, microscopy and other chemical tests.
  • Develop a computerize firearms inspection worksheet that provide a print inspection report and create a firearms database.
  • Show more

Forensic toxicologist example responsibilities.

  • Perform Headspace GC analysis for presence and concentration determination of alcohols and other volatile substances in biological samples.
  • Used laboratory information management system (LIMS) to track casework and release results.
  • SOP's have to be constantly update and follow to detail to prepare the samples accurately before extraction.
  • Prepare samples for analysis through extraction of control substances from biological matrices.
  • Duplicate VHS tapes and various other types of media to DVD.
  • Perform confirmatory semen testing (p30 ELISA and microscopic slide searches for spermatozoa) on casework samples.

Criminalist vs forensic toxicologist skills

Common criminalist skills
  • Physical Evidence, 18%
  • Laboratory Reports, 7%
  • Body Fluids, 7%
  • Quantitative Analysis, 5%
  • Perform DNA, 5%
  • Proficiency Testing, 4%
Common forensic toxicologist skills
  • Ms, 23%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 13%
  • GC, 10%
  • LC, 9%
  • Sops, 7%
  • Immunoassay, 7%

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