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The differences between forensic computer examiners 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 forensic computer examiner and a forensic scientist. Additionally, a forensic scientist has an average salary of $71,351, which is higher than the $66,393 average annual salary of a forensic computer examiner.
The top three skills for a forensic computer examiner include digital forensics, extraction and FTK. The most important skills for a forensic scientist are laboratory equipment, physical evidence, and analytical procedures.
| Forensic Computer Examiner | Forensic Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,393 | $71,351 |
| Hourly rate | $31.92 | $34.30 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 16,108 | 43,335 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
With the arrival of the computer age came a plethora of crimes. Forensic computer examiners collect and analyze data to uncover and prosecute electronic fraud, scams, and identify theft. As a forensic computer examiner, you will tackle cyber-crimes. In doing this, you must adhere strictly to the standards of evidence gathering found in general forensic science, being that legal cases depend on the integrity of evidence. Investigative and report writing skills will also be much-needed assets.
Forensic scientists work as experts in collecting evidence, analyzing evidence collected at crime scenes, and communicating with law enforcement. They can work as a lab manager and detective. They are responsible for ensuring that tests are performed correctly and ethically without any bias. They obtain evidence at the crime scene, making reports of the findings, examining the evidence in the lab if the evidence collected is relevant or not, and testifying in court. They report to superiors the findings of the analysis.
Forensic computer examiners and forensic scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forensic Computer Examiner | Forensic Scientist | |
| Average salary | $66,393 | $71,351 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $94,000 | Between $45,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Lincoln, NE |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Booz Allen Hamilton | Alere |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a forensic computer examiner and a forensic scientist in terms of educational background:
| Forensic Computer Examiner | Forensic Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Biology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between forensic computer examiners' and forensic scientists' demographics:
| Forensic Computer Examiner | Forensic Scientist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.9% 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% |