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The differences between dna analysts and forensic scientists 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 scientist. Additionally, a forensic scientist has an average salary of $71,351, 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 scientist are laboratory equipment, physical evidence, and analytical procedures.
| DNA Analyst | Forensic Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $55,294 | $71,351 |
| Hourly rate | $26.58 | $34.30 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 12,410 | 43,335 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Dna analysts and forensic scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| DNA Analyst | Forensic Scientist | |
| Average salary | $55,294 | $71,351 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $82,000 | Between $45,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, DE | Lincoln, NE |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Alaska |
| Best paying company | InfosysPublicService | Alere |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a dna analyst and a forensic scientist in terms of educational background:
| DNA Analyst | Forensic Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between dna analysts' and forensic scientists' demographics:
| DNA Analyst | Forensic Scientist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.5% Female, 69.5% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |