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The differences between forensic scientists and fingerprint 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 forensic scientist and a fingerprint technician. Additionally, a forensic scientist has an average salary of $71,351, which is higher than the $39,867 average annual salary of a fingerprint technician.
The top three skills for a forensic scientist include laboratory equipment, physical evidence and analytical procedures. The most important skills for a fingerprint technician are customer service, citizenship, and USCIS.
| Forensic Scientist | Fingerprint Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $71,351 | $39,867 |
| Hourly rate | $34.30 | $19.17 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 43,335 | 23,737 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Forensic scientists and fingerprint technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forensic Scientist | Fingerprint Technician | |
| Average salary | $71,351 | $39,867 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $112,000 | Between $26,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lincoln, NE | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Alere | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a forensic scientist and a fingerprint technician in terms of educational background:
| Forensic Scientist | Fingerprint Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Biology | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between forensic scientists' and fingerprint technicians' demographics:
| Forensic Scientist | Fingerprint Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |