Forensic Science Jobs – Top Recruiters, Salary Range and Skills

17,Feb 2024

The field of forensics is wide and hence the job opportunities are also huge. This field offers lots of job options to these experts. The jobs in this field are available in both the private and government sectors. And the pay scale of these professionals is also high. Based on their interest, candidates can opt for any of the specializations and can work accordingly. Because of the demand for these experts in the market, candidates have lots of job opportunities. Here in this blog, we have mentioned all the details regarding forensic jobs, skills required, top recruiters, salary packages, etc.

Forensic Science Jobs:

Candidates can choose their favorite job role from the list of options available to them. Based on the branches of forensics, this domain has been spread over lots of job options. Some of the top job opportunities for candidates are given below:

Forensic Scientist,
Forensic Psychologist,
Forensic Expert,
Drug Analyst,
Crime Laboratory Analyst,
Crime Scene Examiner,
Forensic Anthropologist,
Forensic Pathologist,
Forensic IT Specialist,
Crime Scene Investigator,
Forensic Law Consultant,
Security Expert,
Crime Reporter,
Forensic Toxicologists,
Forensic Accountant,
Forensic Odontologists.

Top Forensics Recruiters:

The demand for forensic professionals is quite high. Companies look for specialists who can work with them and are competent enough to stand in the market. Candidates have a lot of options to choose from, they can decide which company to enter based on their interest. Though there are so many recruiters, here in the table below we have mentioned a few important ones.

Serial No.	Profile Name	Recruiters
1.	Forensic Expert	Police Department, Crime Branches, Detective Agencies, Security Services Agencies.
2.	Forensic Scientist	Police Department, Crime Branches, IB, Courts, Detective Agencies.
3.	Forensic Investigator	Police Department, Crime Branches, Detective Agencies.
4.	Crime Scene Investigator	Police Department, Crime Branches, Detective Agencies, Law Firms.
5.	Handwriting Expert	Police Department, Crime Branches, Banks, Detective Agencies, Insurance Companies.
6.	Document Examiner	Police Department, Crime Branches, Banks, Detective Agencies, Insurance Companies.
7.	Forensic Analyst	Forensic Science Laboratories, IB, Detective Agencies.
8.	Security Expert	Defense/Army, IB, Banks, Security Services Agencies.
9.	Forensic Law Consultant	Organizations, Courts, Law Firms.
10.	Detective	Police Department, Crime Branches, IB, Detective Agencies.
11.	Professor	Private and Government Universities.
12.	Forensic Psychologist	Hospitals, Courts.
13.	Forensic Pathologists	Forensic Science Laboratories, Hospitals.
14.	Fingerprint Expert	Crime Branches, Forensic Science Laboratories, Hospitals, Detective Agencies, Banks, Insurance Companies.
15.	Genetics Experts	Forensic Science Laboratories, Hospitals, Detective Agencies,
16.	Environment Analyst	Organizations, Detective Agencies.
17.	Crime Laboratory Analyst	Forensic Science Laboratories, IB, Detective Agencies.
18.	Forensic Psychiatrist	Organizations, Universities, Hospitals.
19.	Forensic Serologist	Forensic Science Laboratories, Narcotics Dept., Hospitals, Detective Agencies.
20.	Toxicologist	Forensic Science Laboratories, Narcotics Dept., Hospitals, Detective Agencies.
21.	Forensic Computer Expert	Defense/Army, Organizations, Detective Agencies.
22.	Forensic Accountant	Banks, IB, Detective Agencies, Insurance Companies.
23.	Forensic Ballistic Expert	Defense/Army, IB, Security Services Agencies.
24.	Blood Splatter Analyst	Forensic Science Laboratories, Detective Agencies.

Starting Salary of Forensic Scientists:

Candidates have lots of options to work in this field. The salary slabs for all the job profiles vary to some extent, but the perks of being in this field are equal for all the professions. The starting salary of professions like pathologists and forensic law consultants is however low, but it increases with experience. The salary for forensic experts and professors is quite high and candidates can opt for them if they want to grow fast in less time. Here we have given the starting salary packages for all the job profiles.

Serial No.	Profile Name	Starting Salary (Per Annum)
1.	Forensic Expert	5 Lakhs
2.	Forensic Scientist	5 Lakhs
3.	Forensic Investigator	6 Lakhs
4.	Crime Scene Investigator	8 Lakhs
5.	Handwriting Expert	6 Lakhs
6.	Document Examiner	4 Lakhs
7.	Forensic Analyst	7 Lakhs
8.	Security Expert	8 Lakhs
9.	Forensic Law Consultant	3 Lakhs
10.	Detective	4 Lakhs
11.	Professor	6 Lakhs
12.	Forensic Psychologist	4.5 Lakhs
13.	Forensic Pathologists	4.5 Lakhs
14.	Fingerprint Expert	6 Lakhs
15.	Genetics Experts	8 Lakhs
16.	Environment Analyst	4 Lakhs
17.	Crime Laboratory Analyst	5 Lakhs
18.	Forensic Psychiatrist	5 Lakhs
19.	Forensic Serologist	3.5 Lakhs
20.	Toxicologist	5 Lakhs
21.	Forensic Computer Expert	6 Lakhs
22.	Forensic Accountant	7 Lakhs
23.	Forensic Ballistic Expert	9 Lakhs
24.	Blood Splatter Analyst	5 Lakhs

Forensic Science Job Description:

The job roles of these experts vary depending on the specialization they opted for. Their job area is wide and they need to work on multiple things together. Unlike scientists they do not work only in laboratories instead they also need to visit the courts and crime scenes. Here we have mentioned some of the common duties that these experts need to do while at work:

Visit crime scenes and analyze them,
Evaluate and report the crime scene,
Collect evidence from the crime scene,
Evaluate evidence and samples in connection with the crime scene,
Analyze hair, body fluids, glass, paint, and drugs,
Coordinate with other experts and law enforcement personnel to conclude the case,
Conduct tests like spectroscopy, DNA analysis, gas and liquid chromatography, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and fingerprinting analysis, etc.,
Sort and record the evidence,
Communicate the updates with investigators of the case,
Testify in the court.

Skills Required by Forensic Experts:

Apart from getting the degrees and acquiring theoretical knowledge regarding the subject, candidates need to gain some special skills as well. These skills help the candidates to work efficiently in their field. To be a competitive expert you need to learn these skills so that recruiters offer you good job opportunities. Though there are so many skills that a candidate should possess, we have mentioned some of them for your reference here:

You should be able to work with exceptional attention,
You should have a good analytical brain that questions the existence of every substance found at the crime scene,
You need to follow a logical and unbiased approach in case solving,
You should be a team worker, as this work requires interaction with lots of people,
You need to record the findings and testify in the courts hence you need to have strong written and oral communication skills,
Candidates should be able to work under strict deadlines.

How to Start Your Forensic Science Career?

For a candidate to enter the professional world of forensics, he needs to complete his educational qualification. Being unique, this field requires extra effort from the candidates. This is not like other professions where you can enter the field with any educational background. To start your forensics journey, you need to have an essential forensics education. To get good job opportunities, professionals need to get a certificate or a diploma in their respective fields. To get high paying jobs you need to hold a graduation or post-graduation degree.

These courses help you to grow as a professional and train the students to learn the mandatory theoretical and practical skills. After completing the graduation, candidates have the option of working in any of the fields of forensics like ballistics, toxicology, serology, botany, crime scene investigation, etc. Apart from these jobs, candidates can also opt for the teaching profile job. You can work as a teacher or a professor at any private or government institute.

The scope of this field is wide and candidates who wish to enter this field need not worry. The job opportunities are quite good as the demand for these experts is high in the market.

References:

https://www.shiksha.com/science/forensic-science-chp
https://www.bestcolleges.com/careers/criminal-justice/forensic-science/
https://collegedunia.com/courses/bachelor-of-science-bsc-forensic-sciences/career-options-and-jobs
https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/forensic-science-jobs

Frequently Asked Question:

How can I get a job as a crime scene investigator?

To work as a crime scene investigator, you need to complete your graduation in forensics science with a crime investigator specialization.

What is the basic salary of a document examiner?

The basic salary of a document examiner is INR 4 LPA.

Can I work as a forensics professor in private institutes?

Yes, you can. After getting your master’s degree you can teach at any government or private institute.

What is the average salary of forensic scientists?

The average salary of a forensic scientist is INR 7 LPA.

What are the fields I can work in after doing my forensics degree?

There are so many fields that you can work in after doing a forensics degree. Some of the top ones are crime scene investigators, forensic psychiatrist, document examiner, pathologist, etc.

Can I get a forensics job after getting a certificate in the same field?

Of course, you can work in the field of forensics after getting a certificate from a recognized institute.