Forensic Jobs Quiz

Forensic Careers in Texas

• As of January 1, 2019, forensic technicians and analysts must be licensed in the state of Texas.
• There are several subcategories of forensic technicians and analysts, including:
  • Seized Drugs Analyst or Technician
  • Toxicology Analyst or Technician
  • Alcohol, General Forensic Biology
  • Firearm/Toolmark Analyst or Technician
  • Materials (Trace) Analyst or Technician
• Applicants for a Forensic Analyst License must pass the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam, while technicians must pass the Modified General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam.

Crime Scene Technician

• Crime Scene Technicians identify and collect evidence from crime scenes.
• They typically work as civilian employees of the police department or sheriff's office.
• A high school diploma is required, but a college education is a plus.
• Job skills include:
  • Ability to work around blood, vomit, and feces
  • Ability to work with decomposing human bodies
  • Ability to stand the sight of maggots
• The average salary in Texas is $37,000 per year.

Detective

• Detectives working for a police department must be a licensed peace officer in Texas.
• They must first go through a police academy to earn a license, then spend several years on patrol before being moved to the detective division.
• Detectives are responsible for:
  • Investigating criminal cases
  • Interviewing witnesses, suspects, and victims
  • Writing search and arrest warrants
  • Testifying in court
• The average salary in Texas for detectives is $64,000 per year.

Fingerprint Analyst

• Fingerprint Analysts have specific training in examining and identifying fingerprints.
• They may be called to a crime scene to lift prints, but most of their work is done in a laboratory setting.
• Fingerprint analysts must verify all computer matches manually after the computer hits on a possible match.
• They will be called to testify at trial.
• A high school diploma is required, and a college degree may be preferred.
• The average salary in Texas is $48,000 per year.

Bloodstain Pattern Analyst

• Bloodstain Pattern Analysts respond to crime scenes and analyze blood drops, stains, and pools.
• Job duties include:
  • Calculating impact angle
  • Determining directionality
  • Evaluating area of convergence
  • Determining point of origin
  • Sequencing bloodstain events
• A high school diploma is required, and a college degree may be preferred.
• The average salary in Texas is $48,000 per year.

Document Examiner

• Forensic Document Examiners are trained experts who analyze documents for forgery and fraud.
• Job duties include:
  • Comparing handwriting samples for authorship
  • Examining documents and linking them to printers
  • Deciphering documents that are damaged or destroyed
  • Examining documents for signs of forgery
• A bachelor's degree is preferred, and certification in Questioned Documents is required.
• The average salary in Texas is $50,000 per year.

Arson Investigator

• Arson investigators are peace officers who have specialized training in the origin and cause of fires and explosions.
• There are two levels of investigators in Texas:
  • Fire Investigator (licensed firefighter)
  • Arson Investigator (licensed peace officer)
• The average salary in Texas is $57,000 per year.

ATF Special Agent

• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is a federal law enforcement agency that investigates crimes relating to explosives and arson, as well as firearms, tobacco, and alcohol.
• To become a Special Agent, one must:
  • Be between 21 and 36 years of age
  • Pass a physical test
  • Pass a written exam
  • Pass a physical and drug test
  • Pass a polygraph and background test
• The average salary is $61,000 per year.

Forensic Toxicologist

• Forensic toxicologists are scientists who identify drugs or other chemicals in a laboratory setting.
• Job duties include:
  • Analyzing samples from bodily fluids and tissues to determine the presence of harmful chemicals
  • Working with medical examiners to help establish the role of substances related to the cause of death
• A bachelor's degree in Chemistry with a specialization in Forensic Science is required.
• The average salary in Texas is $59,000 per year.

Forensic DNA Analyst

• Forensic DNA Analysts are scientists who specialize in DNA analysis of samples found at crime scenes.
• Job duties include:
  • Developing a DNA profile from a sample
  • Matching with known person's DNA
  • Communicating findings to law enforcement
  • Testifying in court during trial
• A bachelor's degree in Biology or Chemistry with a minor in Forensic Science is required.
• The average salary is $63,000 per year.

Forensic Computer Technician

• Forensic Computer Technicians are high-demand careers in the growing field of cybersecurity.
• Job duties include:
  • Examining and analyzing digital evidence
  • Computer hardware repairs
  • Testifying in court during trial
• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a similar field is required.
• The average salary is $73,000 per year.

Forensic Anthropologist

• Forensic Anthropologists are scientists who identify human remains and cause of death of skeletal remains.
• Job duties include:
  • Calculating height and age from bones
  • Determining gender and ethnicity
  • Calculating post-mortem time interval
  • Determining cause of death (if possible)
• A master's degree in Forensic Anthropology is preferred.
• The average salary is $62,000 per year.

Forensic Nurse

• Forensic Nurses are trained to give a sexual assault examination or document severe abuse/assault cases.
• Job duties include:
  • Collecting biological samples from victims
  • Photographing physical injuries
  • Testifying in court during trial
• A licensed nurse (RN) with a 2-4 year program and SANE Certification is required.

Forensic Odontologist

• Forensic Odontologists are dentists who specialize in identifying human remains from teeth and matching bite marks.
• Job duties include:
  • Identifying human remains from their teeth
  • Matching bite marks on victims to suspects
• A licensed dentist with a bachelor's degree and completion of four years of dentistry school is required.
• The average salary is $150,000 per year.

Medical Examiner

• Medical examiners are doctors who perform autopsies to determine the time, cause, and manner of death.
• To become a medical examiner, one must:
  • Take a heavy load of science classes in undergrad
  • Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
  • Complete four years of medical school
  • Complete a residency
  • Become certified through the American Board of Pathology
• The average salary in Texas is $177,000 per year.

Education

• Sam Houston State University (SHSU) offers degrees in Forensic Science, including:

  • Bachelor's of Science in Forensic Chemistry
  • Minor in Criminal Justice
  • Master's of Science in Forensic Science
  • PhD in Forensic Science

• Texas State University (TSU) offers degrees in Anthropology, including:

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • PhD

• TSU also has a body farm, Freeman Ranch, which is a 26-acre facility where bodies are donated for study to learn about human decomposition and entomology.### Forensic Science Careers

• There are two main types of jobs in forensics: Crime Scene Techs and Forensic Scientists

• Crime Scene Techs respond to crime scenes, do initial scene processing, and usually require a high school diploma with on-the-job training

• Forensic Scientists work in a lab setting, require a minimum Bachelor's degree, and may specialize in one type of evidence

Education Requirements

• Sam Houston State University (SHSU) offers degrees in Forensic Science, including Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry, Master of Science in Forensic Science, and PhD in Forensic Science
• Forensic technicians and analysts in Texas must be licensed as of January 1, 2019
• Applicable subcategories include Seized Drugs, Toxicology, Forensic Biology, Firearm/Toolmark, and Materials (Trace) Analyst or Technician

Forensic Career Profiles

• Crime Scene Technician: identify and collect evidence, require high school diploma (college education a plus), average salary in Texas is $37,000/year
• Detective: investigate criminal cases, interview witnesses, suspects, and victims, require a licensed peace officer in Texas, average salary in Texas is $64,000/year
• Fingerprint Analyst: examine and identify fingerprints, require high school diploma (larger departments may require a college degree), average salary in Texas is $48,000/year
• Bloodstain Pattern Analyst: respond to crime scenes, analyze blood drops, stains, and pools, require high school diploma (larger departments may require a college degree), average salary in Texas is $48,000/year
• Document Examiner: analyze documents for forgery and fraud, require Bachelor's degree preferred, certification in Questioned Documents, average salary in Texas is $50,000/year
• Arson Investigator: investigate fires and explosions, require licensed peace officer, average salary in Texas is $57,000/year
• ATF Special Agent: investigate crimes relating to explosives, firearms, tobacco, and alcohol, require passing physical test, written exam, physical and drug test, polygraph and background test, average salary is $61,000/year
• Forensic Toxicologist: identify drugs or chemicals in a laboratory setting, require Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, specialization in Forensic Science, average salary in Texas is $59,000/year
• Forensic DNA Analyst: develop a DNA profile from a sample, require Bachelor's Degree in Biology (or Chemistry) with a minor in Forensic Science, average salary is $63,000/year
• Forensic Computer Technician: examine digital evidence, require Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a similar field, average salary is $73,000 per year
• Forensic Anthropologist: identify human remains and cause of death, require Master's Degree in Forensic Anthropology, average salary is $62,000 per year
• Forensic Nurse: collect biological samples from victims, require Licensed nurse (RN program) and SANE Certification, 40-hour course plus 40-hours of clinicals
• Forensic Odontologist: identify human remains from teeth, require Licensed dentist and Bachelors degree, pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), complete four years of dentistry school, pass licensing exam, average salary is $150,000 per year
• Medical Examiner: perform autopsies to determine the time, cause, and manner of death, require Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), medical school, residency, and certification through the American Board of Pathology, average salary in Texas is $177,000.