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The differences between fingerprint technicians and crime scene technicians 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 technician. Additionally, a crime scene technician has an average salary of $51,741, 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 technician are biohazard, demolition, and physical evidence.
| Fingerprint Technician | Crime Scene Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,867 | $51,741 |
| Hourly rate | $19.17 | $24.88 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 23,737 | 5,535 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Fingerprint Technician specializes in reviewing and classifying fingerprints, processing them according to their purpose. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or employment industry, it typically includes assisting clients in fingerprinting processes, facilitating fingerprint scanning methods, utilizing software to record and organize data, and maintaining an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow. When it comes to employment, a Fingerprint Technician may work for government agencies, law enforcement, and forensic laboratories.
A crime scene technician specializes in gathering and processing evidence from crime scenes. They must visit and closely examine crime scenes, find potential clues, gather fingerprints and DNA samples, take photos and videos, recreate the crime scene through sketches or computerized models, and keep records. They also conduct laboratory analyses to process evidence and report results to investigators. They may sometimes have to testify at court, where they must present their findings objectively and clearly.
Fingerprint technicians and crime scene technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fingerprint Technician | Crime Scene Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,867 | $51,741 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $60,000 | Between $33,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a fingerprint technician and a crime scene technician in terms of educational background:
| Fingerprint Technician | Crime Scene Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between fingerprint technicians' and crime scene technicians' demographics:
| Fingerprint Technician | Crime Scene Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% | Male, 50.6% Female, 49.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |