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A crime scene investigator’s salary will provide you with a comfortable life. The rewards of these careers are far greater than simply monetary. You will go to sleep each night knowing you made a difference in the world and that you, quite possibly, saved the lives of many people by putting away a criminal. If you enjoy science and like the idea of solving crimes, this may be the career for you.
The Details
A crime scene investigator’s salary will be influenced by the investigator’s roles and responsibilities. It is important to make a distinction about the definition of a crime scene prior to going into greater detail. Many people believe the crime scene, in regards to a homicide or kidnapping, to be the location where a body is discovered. In reality, the crime scene is the location where the crime was actually committed. In homicides, people often try to move the body to cover up the area where the crime was committed. Even criminals are aware if they are able to hide the crime scene, their chances of evading an arrest increase significantly. This speaks volumes to the advances made in crime scene investigation. If you choose this career path and are responsible for examining the alleged scene of the crime, one of your primary roles will be to ensure the area you are examining is, in fact, the crime scene and not the location someone wishes you to believe is the crime scene.
Crime scenes are often quite difficult in which to work. You might have to analyze evidence from the middle of the woods on a cold, winter day. You will be responsible to seek out evidence in such terrain as you would if it were inside someone’s home. You would be responsible for detailing shoe prints left in the snow, looking for hair samples or any other DNA evidence, and sampling blood and urine to determine whether it belongs to a human or an animal. You might have a crime scene in places you never thought you would investigate a crime. Part of this job is to always expect the unexpected and to keep an open mind. As a crime scene investigator, you will be a scientist first and foremost. You must focus solely on the evidence which is presented to you through your investigation. Your job is not to create theories and substantiate evidence to fit a theory of your liking. Many times, the evidence will take you to places you would rather not go. Sometimes, you will find evidence to incarcerate a person you feel committed a just crime. Other times, you will find evidence to free a known killer who simply did not commit the crime you are investigating. It will be a very challenging career in a number of ways; however, your salary will make it a little easier.
The Salary
A crime scene investigator’s salary is largely dependent upon the level of education you complete. At this point in time, many crime scene investigator positions only require a bachelor’s degree. Due to the amount of work experience and hands-on training required to be completed prior to becoming an actual crime scene investigator, it may be in your best interests to pursue online degrees. The best, online universities offer many advantageous degrees for people seeking a career in crime scene investigation. Seeing as this career is highly scientific, you might benefit greatly by completing an undergraduate degree in biology or chemistry. Many of the best, online schools now offer top programs in forensic science and crime scene investigation as well. All of these degrees will provide you with a unique advantage as a crime scene investigator. You will also be able to pursue entry-level positions in the criminal justice world which only require a high school diploma or some advanced education. Some lab technician positions do not require extensive educational requirements. By pursuing online college courses, you are able to start working toward your work experience requirements while you complete your education. This will also affect your salary.
As a crime scene investigator, your salary will vary greatly depending upon your years of experience, education, and employer. Many different levels of crime scene investigators exist. You might host a variety of professional positions prior to being a proper criminalist. You might consider careers as a crime scene technician, forensic scientist trainee, crime scene supervisor, or others. If you have little to no experience and work in a small community, you might make around $45,000 annually. If you have many years’ experience and work for a wealthy community, you could make closer to $80,000 a year. Once you become a criminalist, you could make over $100,000 annually. At the end of the day, your salary is greatly dependent upon your career and education choices.
A crime scene investigator’s salary is determined by the level of your personal determination. If you continue your education by completing an online master’s degree while you gain invaluable work experience, you will make more money and be eligible for the top careers in this profession. You create your opportunities.
