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What is a forensic ballistics expert and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a forensic ballistics expert. For example, did you know that they make an average of $31.12 an hour? That's $64,737 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 11% and produce 2,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreForensic Ballistics ExpertUS Average
Salary
5.1

Avg. Salary $64,737

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.9

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.99%

Asian 11.38%

Black or African American 6.80%

Hispanic or Latino 12.39%

Unknown 5.73%

White 62.70%

Gender

female 24.24%

male 75.76%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a forensic ballistics expert

  1. Explore forensic ballistics expert education requirements

    Most common forensic ballistics expert degrees

    Bachelor's

    44.0 %

    Master's

    28.0 %

    Doctorate

    24.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific forensic ballistics expert skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Litigation41.51%
    Cyber Security23.46%
    Encase15.29%
    E-Discovery12.71%
    Security Practices7.03%
  3. Complete relevant forensic ballistics expert training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New forensic ballistics experts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a forensic ballistics expert based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real forensic ballistics expert resumes.
  4. Research forensic ballistics expert duties and 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.
  5. Apply for forensic ballistics expert jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a forensic ballistics expert job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first forensic ballistics expert job

Zippi

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Average forensic ballistics expert salary

The average forensic ballistics expert salary in the United States is $64,737 per year or $31 per hour. Forensic ballistics expert salaries range between $36,000 and $116,000 per year.

Average forensic ballistics expert salary
$64,737 Yearly
$31.12 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do forensic ballistics experts rate their job?

5/5

Out of 1 Forensic Ballistics Expert reviews, 100% were positive.

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Based on 1 ratings

Overall rating
5.0
Career growth
5.0
Pay / salary
5.0
Work/life balance
5.0

Forensic ballistics expert reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

fun

Cons


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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