Photo: IAEA Imagebank (CC BY 2.0)
Job description
Work includes photographing and sketching a crime scene, collecting and preserving evidence, and running tests on substances like fiber, hair, or tissue to determine their relevance to a case. Many technicians specialize, in ballistics, fingerprint analysis, handwriting, or biochemistry, and may testify in court about their methods and findings. Precision matters enormously since results feed directly into legal proceedings, and the work is highly structured, following set laboratory procedures under real time pressure.
Pros
- Much faster than average projected job growth (12.8% over the next decade)
- Enters via vocational training, apprenticeship, or an associate's degree rather than a four-year degree
- Pay can reach over $117k for specialists in high-demand areas like ballistics or DNA analysis
Cons
- Above-average hours, expect more than a standard 40-hour work week
- Decisions come up constantly and often need to be made quickly, with precision essential since errors can affect court outcomes
- A relatively small number of positions nationwide, so opportunities may be geographically limited
A typical day
The callout comes at 6:40 — a burglary scene — and the technician works it methodically: photographs first, wide to close, then powder on the window frame that yields two liftable prints, swabs of a blood drop by the door, everything bagged, sealed, and logged in an unbroken chain of custody. Back at the lab by 11, the day shifts to the bench: running the prints through AFIS, prepping the swabs for DNA submission, and comparing fibers from a prior case under the microscope. The afternoon closes with report writing in precise, testifiable language, and a subpoena on the desk for next month — because everything done at 6:40 this morning may be questioned under oath.
Tasks at the job
- Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and you work in close physical proximity to coworkers or the public for much of the shift. Noise levels can be distracting or uncomfortable. The role involves regular exposure to contaminants, and standard protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, and similar) is expected.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure, and decisions come up constantly and often need to be made quickly. Precision and accuracy are essential to the work, and the work is highly structured, following set procedures. You'll regularly deal with frustrated or upset people as part of the job.
Education necessary or common
Vocational training, apprenticeship, or associate's degree
Common college majors
Licenses & certifications
- ABC (American Board of Criminalistics) certifications later in career
- Crime scene certifications (IAI) by specialty
- Lab accreditation training (employer-provided)
Career path
Related fields
Courses to take
- Chemistry — trace analysis and lab technique
- AP Biology — DNA and serology foundations
- Forensic Science if your school offers it
- AP Statistics — evidence is probabilistic and courts know it
- English/Composition — reports and testimony
Clubs, activities & competitions
- Science Olympiad Forensics event — a direct simulation
- HOSA or science club
- Mock Trial — see how evidence gets challenged
- Photography club — scene photography is a real skill
First steps you can take now
- Compete in Science Olympiad Forensics or work its practice kits
- Tour a crime lab or attend a police department open house
- Practice careful documentation: photograph and log a mock scene at home
- Read how chain of custody works and why cases die without it
