Dna analyst vs forensic ballistics expert

The differences between dna analysts and forensic ballistics experts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a dna analyst and a forensic ballistics expert. Additionally, a forensic ballistics expert has an average salary of $64,737, which is higher than the $55,294 average annual salary of a dna analyst.

The top three skills for a dna analyst include extraction, dna analysis and lab equipment. The most important skills for a forensic ballistics expert are litigation, cyber security, and encase.

Dna analyst vs forensic ballistics expert overview

	DNA Analyst	Forensic Ballistics Expert
Yearly salary	$55,294	$64,737
Hourly rate	$26.58	$31.12
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	12,410	8,905
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Dna analyst vs forensic ballistics expert salary

Dna analysts and forensic ballistics experts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	DNA Analyst	Forensic Ballistics Expert
Average salary	$55,294	$64,737
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $82,000	Between $36,000 And $116,000
Highest paying City	Dover, DE	-
Highest paying state	Mississippi	-
Best paying company	InfosysPublicService	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between dna analyst and forensic ballistics expert education

There are a few differences between a dna analyst and a forensic ballistics expert in terms of educational background:

	DNA Analyst	Forensic Ballistics Expert
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Biology	Criminal Justice
Most common college	Stanford University	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dna analyst vs forensic ballistics expert demographics

Here are the differences between dna analysts' and forensic ballistics experts' demographics:

	DNA Analyst	Forensic Ballistics Expert
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 30.5% Female, 69.5%	Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 11.4% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between dna analyst and forensic ballistics expert duties and responsibilities

Dna analyst example responsibilities.

Ensure CODIS sample preparation and organic extraction of DNA daily metrics are achieved and maintain.
Address CODIS software and network issues throughout Wisconsin.
Monitor quality of reagents in a LIMS tracking system.
Process convict offender DNA profiles for entry into CODIS.
Collect data from the capillary electrophoresis machine and interpret the ladders, controls and data for each sample.
Train to use standard operating procedures and policy and procedure to analyze capillary electrophoresis data for several different clients.

Forensic ballistics expert example responsibilities.

Manage use and maintenance of company vehicle, surveying equip., cameras, and firearms.
Provide computer forensics, litigation and regulatory support, including expert testimony.
Perform in-depth forensic analysis of Macintosh computer hard drives and prepare expert report for use in ongoing litigation.
Perform function tests on submit firearms and collect standards for microscopic comparisons.

Dna analyst vs forensic ballistics expert skills

Common dna analyst skills

Extraction, 10%
DNA Analysis, 10%
Lab Equipment, 8%
Proficiency Testing, 8%
Lims, 7%
ABI, 7%

Common forensic ballistics expert skills

Litigation, 42%
Cyber Security, 23%
Encase, 15%
E-Discovery, 13%
Security Practices, 7%

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DNA Analyst vs Forensic Ballistics Expert

Updated January 8, 2025

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