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What is a crime scene investigator and how to become one
If you've ever watched a detective show, chances are you've seen a crime scene investigator at work. They're the person crawling around a grisly crime scene, putting stray hairs in little plastic baggies.
As a crime scene investigator, you would be responsible for collecting scientific forensic evidence that is used to solve crimes, such as fingerprints, hair, bullets, and blood splatter photographs. As you can imagine, this requires an excellent eye for detail and safety procedures. The consequences for accidentally contaminating a crime scene aren't pretty.
The work of a crime scene investigator is fairly tough. You'd work long hours because criminals do not stick to an office schedule. Many agencies require extensive training and degrees in forensic science before you can work as a crime scene investigator. However, your work would be crucial to helping solve crimes.
What general advice would you give to a Crime Scene Investigator?
Gary LaFree
Chair and Professor, University of Maryland
Avg. Salary $59,391
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 2.82%
Black or African American 11.76%
Hispanic or Latino 16.74%
Unknown 4.99%
White 63.02%
Genderfemale 39.03%
male 60.97%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Crime Scene Investigator career paths
Key steps to become a crime scene investigator
Explore crime scene investigator education requirements
Start to develop specific crime scene investigator skills
Skills 
Percentages Physical Evidence 16.83% Criminal Justice 10.22% Law Enforcement Agencies 7.65% Laboratory Analysis 4.87% Patrol 4.72% Complete relevant crime scene investigator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New crime scene investigators 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 crime scene investigator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real crime scene investigator resumes.Research crime scene investigator duties and 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.
Prepare your crime scene investigator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your crime scene investigator 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 crime scene investigator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Crime Scene Investigator Resume templates
Build a professional Crime Scene Investigator 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 Crime Scene Investigator resume.
Apply for crime scene investigator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a crime scene investigator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Crime Scene Investigator Job
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Average crime scene investigator salary
The average Crime Scene Investigator salary in the United States is $59,391 per year or $29 per hour. Crime scene investigator salaries range between $30,000 and $113,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
