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Scientific technician vs crime scene investigator

The differences between scientific technicians and crime scene investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a scientific technician, becoming a crime scene investigator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a crime scene investigator has an average salary of $59,391, which is higher than the $40,956 average annual salary of a scientific technician.

The top three skills for a scientific technician include data collection, GPS and harvest. The most important skills for a crime scene investigator are physical evidence, criminal justice, and law enforcement agencies.

Scientific technician vs crime scene investigator overview

Scientific TechnicianCrime Scene Investigator
Yearly salary$40,956$59,391
Hourly rate$19.69$28.55
Growth rate9%3%
Number of jobs9,2594,621
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4044
Years of experience42

Scientific technician vs crime scene investigator salary

Scientific technicians and crime scene investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Scientific TechnicianCrime Scene Investigator
Average salary$40,956$59,391
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $58,000Between $30,000 And $113,000
Highest paying CityBethesda, MD-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyJacobs Engineering Group-
Best paying industryPharmaceutical-

Differences between scientific technician and crime scene investigator education

There are a few differences between a scientific technician and a crime scene investigator in terms of educational background:

Scientific TechnicianCrime Scene Investigator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBiologyCriminal Justice
Most common collegeDuke University-

Scientific technician vs crime scene investigator demographics

Here are the differences between scientific technicians' and crime scene investigators' demographics:

Scientific TechnicianCrime Scene Investigator
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 59.9% Female, 40.1%Male, 61.0% Female, 39.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 13.0% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between scientific technician and crime scene investigator duties and responsibilities

Scientific technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage AIS boat check stations with WDFW enforcement (Carl Klein).
  • Identify owl species by sight and sound prompt using hoot flute and reed caller.
  • Work onboard commercial gillnet boats to monitor salmon harvest.
  • Measure fork length and weight of salmon and steelhead, as well as other fish species.
  • Operate and maintain power boats, drift boats, and rafts for field surveys.
  • Utilize maps, GPS, rangefinder, secchi disk and kayaks on a daily basis.
    • Show more

Crime scene investigator example responsibilities.

  • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
  • Investigate and open cases on customers and non-customers who have potentially engage in activity which goes against federally mandate BSA/AML regulations.
  • Review wire transfers and apply regulatory reporting and banking requirements to ensure compliance with BSA/AML and OFAC rules and regulations.
  • Conduct OFAC alert investigation using global standard policies, procedures and tools aim at meeting internal and external regulatory requirements.
  • Serve as firstresponder for accidents and disasters, applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life- saving procedures as needed.

Scientific technician vs crime scene investigator skills

Common scientific technician skills
  • Data Collection, 18%
  • GPS, 11%
  • Harvest, 8%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Lab Equipment, 6%
  • Boats, 5%
Common crime scene investigator skills
  • Physical Evidence, 17%
  • Criminal Justice, 10%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 8%
  • Laboratory Analysis, 5%
  • Patrol, 5%
  • AML, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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