Forensic photographer vs staff photographer

The differences between forensic photographers and staff photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a forensic photographer and a staff photographer. Additionally, a forensic photographer has an average salary of $79,125, which is higher than the $37,094 average annual salary of a staff photographer.

The top three skills for a forensic photographer include latent prints, photographic techniques and adobe photoshop. The most important skills for a staff photographer are product photography, adobe photoshop, and event coverage.

Forensic photographer vs staff photographer overview

	Forensic Photographer	Staff Photographer
Yearly salary	$79,125	$37,094
Hourly rate	$38.04	$17.83
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	1,964	69,695
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	2	2

Forensic photographer vs staff photographer salary

Forensic photographers and staff photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Forensic Photographer	Staff Photographer
Average salary	$79,125	$37,094
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $306,000	Between $21,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between forensic photographer and staff photographer education

There are a few differences between a forensic photographer and a staff photographer in terms of educational background:

	Forensic Photographer	Staff Photographer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common major	Photography	Photography
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Harvard University

Forensic photographer vs staff photographer demographics

Here are the differences between forensic photographers' and staff photographers' demographics:

	Forensic Photographer	Staff Photographer
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%	Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 5.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between forensic photographer and staff photographer duties and responsibilities

Forensic photographer example responsibilities.

Coordinate and manage providing and dressing the customers with old western costumes in preparation of taking their photos.
Photograph latent impressions on a variety of surfaces using ALS, RUVIS, and other light sources using a Nikon D3S.
Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

Staff photographer example responsibilities.

Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
Operate specialized camera equipment, including DSLR cameras and lenses, as well as video lighting.
Contribute to website and Facebook pages, keeping followers inform about local news and events between weekly papers.
Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

Forensic photographer vs staff photographer skills

Common forensic photographer skills

Latent Prints, 32%
Photographic Techniques, 27%
Adobe Photoshop, 15%
Biometrics, 14%
Law Enforcement, 12%

Common staff photographer skills

Product Photography, 33%
Adobe Photoshop, 28%
Event Coverage, 5%
Adobe Lightroom, 4%
Photo Shoots, 2%
Art Directors, 2%

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Forensic Photographer
Forensic Photographer vs Staff Photographer

Updated January 8, 2025

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