What are careers in digital forensics?

Digital forensics professor, forensic computer analyst, and information technology auditor are careers in digital forensics. A degree in digital forensics can be beneficial for a career in digital forensics, but experience is crucial for finding many positions.

How To Become A Forensic Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a forensic specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Forensic specialists work with crime scenes and specialize in collecting or analyzing forensic evidence. Some forensic specialists spend their days out in the field with an investigative team, scouring crime scenes for traces of blood or stray fibers. Other forensic specialists spend their days in the laboratory conducting various tests on evidence, such as DNA testing and chemically testing residues left behind.

No matter their exact duties, forensic specialists need to have a background in criminal investigations in order to identify how evidence can fit into an investigative team's case. They also need a keen attention to detail to spot potential evidence and anomalies in an analysis.

Most forensic specialists get a bachelor's or master's degree in criminal justice and extensive coursework in science. It also helps if they have some professional experience working in a laboratory, for example as an intern or assistant. On average, forensic specialists earn a salary of $47,690 a year. The demand for forensic specialists is expected to grow by 14% by 2028.

ScoreForensic SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,653

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 10.08%

Black or African American 9.60%

Hispanic or Latino 16.97%

Unknown 6.02%

White 56.28%

Gender

female 50.89%

male 49.11%

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 specialist

Explore forensic specialist education requirements

Most common forensic specialist degrees

Bachelor's

54.0 %

Master's

20.9 %

Associate

13.7 %

Start to develop specific forensic specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Social Work	9.85%
Encase	8.30%
Criminal Justice	7.62%
Mental Health	6.18%
Digital Forensics	5.26%

Complete relevant forensic specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New forensic specialists 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 specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real forensic specialist resumes.

Research forensic specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage use and maintenance of company vehicle, surveying equip., cameras, and firearms.
Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
Secure and track any DNA evidence submit for testing.
Examine evidence for the presence of biological material and collect potential DNA samples.

Prepare your forensic specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your forensic specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a forensic specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable forensic specialist resume templates

Build a professional forensic specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your forensic specialist resume.