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Fingerprint technician vs crime scene specialist

The differences between fingerprint technicians and crime scene 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 fingerprint technician and a crime scene specialist. Additionally, a crime scene specialist has an average salary of $58,467, which is higher than the $39,867 average annual salary of a fingerprint technician.

The top three skills for a fingerprint technician include customer service, citizenship and USCIS. The most important skills for a crime scene specialist are physical evidence, evidence collection, and patrol.

Fingerprint technician vs crime scene specialist overview

Fingerprint TechnicianCrime Scene Specialist
Yearly salary$39,867$58,467
Hourly rate$19.17$28.11
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs23,737283
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

Fingerprint technician vs crime scene specialist salary

Fingerprint technicians and crime scene specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fingerprint TechnicianCrime Scene Specialist
Average salary$39,867$58,467
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $60,000Between $36,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between fingerprint technician and crime scene specialist education

There are a few differences between a fingerprint technician and a crime scene specialist in terms of educational background:

Fingerprint TechnicianCrime Scene Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common collegeStanford UniversityCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Fingerprint technician vs crime scene specialist demographics

Here are the differences between fingerprint technicians' and crime scene specialists' demographics:

Fingerprint TechnicianCrime Scene Specialist
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 35.7% Female, 64.3%Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between fingerprint technician and crime scene specialist duties and responsibilities

Fingerprint technician example responsibilities.

  • Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
  • Evaluate ink fingerprints for accuracy and assign fingerprint pattern for entry into AFIS.
  • Compare fingerprints in the AFIS system to fingerprints on file matching core and minutia.
  • Transform a drug chemistry laboratory suite into a forensic biology and DNA training suite.
  • Perform CSI duties (fingerprinting, DNA swabbing, photography, reports, and collection of evidence )
  • Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
  • Show more

Crime scene specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage customer information in customer management systems CIV.
  • Collect evidence using various collection and detection methods including photography, ALS and chemical processing.
  • Serve as firstresponder for accidents and disasters, applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life- saving procedures as needed.

Fingerprint technician vs crime scene specialist skills

Common fingerprint technician skills
  • Customer Service, 34%
  • Citizenship, 25%
  • USCIS, 20%
  • Fingerprint Cards, 3%
  • Process Applicants, 3%
  • Background Checks, 2%
Common crime scene specialist skills
  • Physical Evidence, 46%
  • Evidence Collection, 13%
  • Patrol, 12%
  • Latent Prints, 5%
  • Diagramming, 5%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 4%

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