Forensic Science Careers

Forensic science has the power to bring justice to a criminal or help an innocent person clear their name, but the broad, investigative field goes far beyond that. Forensic scientists are widely known for using evidence from crime scenes to help legal investigations, aiding law enforcement, and serving as key witnesses in court.

However, it may surprise you to learn forensic science is more than tracing the path of a bullet or using DNA evidence to find a suspect. Forensic scientists work in many roles, using data and evidence to reconstruct the root causes of everything from a structural problem in a building to an underlying medical issue. The field of forensic science can prepare you for jobs both within the legal system and outside of it in areas like medicine, manufacturing, and architecture.

If you have an analytical mindset, a keen eye for detail, good organizational skills, and an ability to remain objective while interpreting data, forensic science may be the right field for you. Read on to learn more about potential career paths, typical salaries, and professional organizations in this field.

What Is the Salary of Forensic Science Majors?

The wide-ranging, multidisciplinary field of forensic science can bring you a high return on investment, but salaries vary within disciplines and by degree level. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for forensic science technicians in 2023 was $64,940. However, more specialized fields can lead to higher earnings. For example, a forensic expert in the field of accountancy or toxicology can earn significantly more.

While a bachelor's degree is a common requirement for many forensic science jobs, earning a graduate degree might be necessary to qualify for more specialized roles. Becoming a forensic pathologist, for instance, requires years of medical training, licensing, and a graduate-level education in the medical field.

What Can I Do With a Forensic Science Degree?

Studying forensic science can unlock a number of career opportunities, depending on your specialization and the level of education you pursue. A typical forensic science curriculum covers investigation, criminology, communication, and cybersecurity.

Associate Degree

Many top community colleges offer associate degrees in forensic science, setting you up for an affordable pathway to start your career. A two-year undergraduate degree in forensic science can prepare you for support positions in the field, such as laboratory technician, legal assistant, or police officer.

Additionally, because community college credits are often transferable to four-year institutions, you can prepare to earn a forensic science bachelor's degree or a bachelor's in law enforcement.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree in forensic science can prepare you for various careers based on your focus. The curriculum typically requires 120 credits and covers areas like criminology, communication, and forensic investigation. Coursework may also feature specialized areas like chemistry, botany, accounting and finance, and other fields that can prepare you for niche areas.

Programs also offer internship opportunities. You can work alongside professional forensic scientists as part of an internship, boosting your resume and applying what you've learned in classes. Many internships are paid.

Graduate Degree

A master's in forensic science can help you get high-paying, highly specialized roles within the field. Whether that's leading a laboratory or developing expertise in a specific field, such as toxicology or forensic document analysis, master's programs are available to help forensic scientists sharpen their skills.

The length of a program can vary depending on how you choose to pursue your degree. Many programs offer part-time instruction — either in person or online — to allow you to continue working in the forensic science field while sharpening your skills and working toward a graduate degree. These programs often include a concentration or specialization, including trace evidence, criminal investigation, and forensic psychology.

You should also be aware of different program types. A master's in forensic science program typically awards either a master of science (MS) or master of forensic science (MFS) degree. An MFS tends to specialize more in a particular field or discipline, whereas an MS is more research oriented and provides more varied options after graduation.

You can also pursue doctoral degrees in forensic science, focusing heavily on original research and applying that research to your discipline. These degrees can set you up for postsecondary teaching and research positions, as well as leadership and management roles at laboratories and other institutions.

Professional Organizations

Many professional organizations cater to forensic science experts in specific fields, offering everything from certifications and training opportunities to networking and collaborative research events.

• American Academy of Forensic Sciences: The American Academy of Forensic Scientists (AAFS) has over 6,000 members from all 50 states and represents an array of forensic experts, from attorneys to physicists, engineers, criminalists, and more. The AAFS aims to advance the field of forensic science and advocates for industry professionals on a national level. It also provides grants, scholarships, and networking opportunities for its members.
• American Board of Criminalistics: The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) comprises national organizations that certify forensic science professionals. The ABC offers certifications in biological evidence screening, comprehensive criminalistics, drug analysis, forensic DNA, and foundational knowledge. Several regional and national organizations, including the AAFS and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, make up the ABC's membership group.
• American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors: The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors offers its members career and professional development opportunities. The society includes both crime laboratory directors and forensic science managers from various fields within forensic science. It serves to bolster and distribute research, industry news, and other resources for leaders within the forensic science profession.
• American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners: A newer professional organization, the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners includes more than 350 trace evidence professionals, from professors to students and practitioners. The society is open to professionals and representatives from many countries and aims to boost research and the exchange of ideas, as well as increase standards within the field of trace evidence.
• Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners: The Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) offers training, certification, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and a number of other resources to firearm and tool mark identification practitioners. In addition to its research and efforts to boost the field, the AFTE funds annual scholarships to students interested in forensic science.
• International Association for Identification: The oldest and largest forensic association globally, the International Association for Identification offers access to an international network of forensic science experts. The association provides certifications in many subfields within forensic science, from bloodstain patterns to crime scenes and even forensic art, video, and photography. The group also publishes academic journals, offers trainings, holds conferences, and boasts a wide network of professionals.
• Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists: The Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists is one of many regional associations that offers a more localized network of professionals, connecting its members with employment opportunities and hosting an annual meeting.
• Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc.: The Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) offers networking and skill-building opportunities to its members. Forensic toxicologists are experts who trace and identify drugs and other chemicals within the body, and their work can be critical in both civil and legal matters. SOFT offers annual awards in the field of forensic toxicology and boosts networking, collaboration, and research opportunities for its members.

Forensic Science Certifications

Some organizations offer specialized professional certifications within the field of forensic science. A certification verifies a forensic scientist's expertise in a given area, such as in bloodstain pattern analysis or forensic document analysis. It can help highlight your expertise and set you apart from peers on the job market.

• American Board of Criminalistics: The ABC offers examinations related to comprehensive criminalistics, biological evidence screening (such as tests on blood and other fluids, drug analysis, and forensic DNA), and foundational knowledge in the field of criminalistics.
• American Board of Forensic Document Examiners: The American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE) offers certifications to forensic document examiners — a specialized field of forensic science that examines various documents, tracing everything from how and where a document was created to the style of handwriting to determine the origins and nature of a document. The ABFDE offers a four-phase certification process, requiring credentials, a written assessment, a practical case assignment, and a hearing before a panel.
• American Board of Forensic Odontology: Forensic odontology focuses on dentistry. Forensic odontologists primarily focus on finding out someone's identity based on their dental history, using indentations and dental work. The American Board of Forensic Odontology represents these experts and offers certification through a comprehensive test.
• American Board of Forensic Toxicology: The American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) certifies forensic toxicologists who specialize in determining whether drugs or chemicals are present in the body through testing bodily fluids and tissues. ABFT certification is based on a candidate's personal and professional record of education and training, experience, achievement, and a formal written examination.
• American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators: Medicolegal death investigators examine death scenes to determine the cause of unnatural and unexplained deaths and determine whether further investigation is necessary. The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators certifies these professionals through basic registry certification and more advanced board certification. It also outlines death investigation guidelines and industry standards.
• International Association for Identification: The International Association for Identification offers certifications in a variety of specialized areas, including bloodstain patterns, forensic art, and forensic photography.

Interview With a Professional in Forensic Science

Cindy Murphy, Retired Police Detective

Cindy Murphy is a retired police detective with over 20 years of experience in cybercrime investigations and digital forensics. She joined the Madison Police Department in Wisconsin in 1991 and began investigating computer-related crimes in 1999.

Today, Cindy is president of Tetra Defense. She is an expert in the field due to her extensive experience, thirst for new and challenging problems to solve, and passion for her work.

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Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in forensics and forensic science?

A: I almost literally fell into digital forensics. I started my career in the military and then became a law enforcement officer.

In 1998, I was involved in a high-speed chase where an armed man ran from a stolen vehicle after he crashed it. I chased him over a chain-link fence and caught him with the help of another officer. After we tackled and handcuffed him, the other officer kindly pointed out to me that the leg of my pants was torn and I was bleeding profusely.

I realized that I had not made it over the fence unscathed, but had messed up my lower back and lacerated my hamstring.

While on light duty, recovering from that injury, I caught the digital forensics bug. I worked with a now-retired detective on one of the first computer forensics cases our department did. A guy was cutting signatures out of historical books at the Wisconsin State Historical Library and selling them in newsgroups.

Many years later, in 2012, I learned that Eoghan Casey (a foundational figure in digital forensics) was working the other end of that case in Boston. We solved the case using DOS commands on a DD image (cloned hard drive) of the suspect's computer.

It was a new and fascinating set of problems to solve, involving some skills my dad showed me when I was a kid. I put in a training request to go to the NW3C's basic data recovery and analysis class and ended up attending in Helena, Montana, in 1999.

Several months later, I was back on the streets, healed from my injuries, and a new fan of digital forensics when I got into another foot chase and injured my right knee badly. Another trip to the ER, knee surgery, and another long stretch of PT later, I came out in relatively good shape.

I went back on light duty and was assigned to work on a new computer forensics case. After consultation with my family, I was promoted to detective in 2000 and became a financial crimes detective. I was also tasked to help with computer-related cases when they came in, and over the next several years, they took over more and more of my caseload.

In 2003, the department created a new position in the detective bureau for computer crimes, and I was assigned to working computer crimes and computer forensics full time.

Q: What makes a degree and career in forensic science unique?

A: From the moment I got involved in digital forensics, I knew it was something I wanted to do for the long haul and the reason was simple: it's an industry that is always changing.

With the continued evolution and use of technology, digital forensics has had to adapt to meet the needs and answer the questions technology sparks. The constant change consistently opens doors for new research projects and specialization areas.

Some digital forensics professionals may focus their efforts on mobile forensics, IoT (internet of things), incident response, intellectual property theft investigations, flash memory, and a litany of other areas.

In addition to the fact that no two days are the same, digital forensics is a great way to actively help people.

In my career I have helped families find closure by answering crucial questions in unsolved murders. I have helped children who were victims of sexual abuse. I have helped businesses hold their competitors accountable when intellectual property was stolen. I have assisted countless small businesses in response and recovery from ransomware attacks so they can keep the doors open for their communities.

Now you can see why no two days are the same in this field.

Q: Can graduates of forensic science programs find careers all over the country?

A: Finding a career in digital forensics anywhere in the nation is very likely, and candidates for digital forensics and incident response work are in high demand.

In fact, there is a staffing shortage in digital forensics, incident response, and many other areas of technology. This is partially due to the lack of awareness of digital forensics as a career path, but also to the sheer volume and variation of casework. Digital forensics as an industry needs more investigators to address the questions posed by technology.

One of my passions as a digital forensics professional is to build awareness of this industry as a viable and rewarding career path, especially for women and people of color.

I serve on the advisory panel for initiatives like The Cyber Sleuth Lab, which is an educational program designed to expose young women and underrepresented and underserved high school students to digital forensics through hands-on learning experiences.

These types of programs are eye-opening for many students when considering their career options and build awareness of issues of data privacy and how technology houses and displays personal information.

Q: What did your career trajectory look like after you graduated? How did you end up in your current position?

A: As I mentioned earlier, I more or less fell into digital forensics prior to completing an academic program.

While some may not have pursued education after several years working in the field, I found that many of the available 40-hour training programs and certification tracks I participated in started to feel redundant and did not progress to the more advanced level I was seeking.

At that point, I decided to combine something I knew I needed to do with something I wanted to do. This led to traveling to Ireland to complete my master's degree in forensic computing and cybercrime investigation at University College Dublin in a blended online/on-site program in 2011.

After completing my degree, I continued to work in law enforcement as a detective investigating computer-related crimes.

In 2016, Scott Holewinski approached me with the idea of departing from law enforcement to build a digital forensics company. While I initially resisted, his persistence, clear vision of building something special, and my own ambition led to launching Gillware Digital Forensics in 2016.

Since then, we have grown into a successful digital forensics, incident response, and cyber risk management firm. With how my career has changed over the years, I am reminded that the decision to formalize my digital forensics education continues to open doors and create opportunities in my career.

Q: Why did you decide to start your own company? Is this common for someone in the field?

A: As I said, Scott Holewinksi, Gillware's CEO, was very persistent and driven to build the digital forensics operation Gillware (now Tetra) is today. As with any career move, there was some hesitation and contemplation of whether or not it was the best decision.

However, ultimately, I realized I wanted to continue growing personally and in the field. I was ready for a new challenge and wanted to team up with the impressive data recovery engineers at Gillware. I never looked back and could not be happier.

Q: What are the pros and cons of working in the industry?

A: It's funny, many of the pros can also be the cons in this career field. It's an ever-changing industry, requiring consistent professional development, which is something I yearn for.

The mind boggles when looking back to the beginning of digital forensics and how far the industry has come. When I started in the field, there were very few commercial tools and not many active practitioners. Keeping up with that progression and continuously learning and watching the network of professional peers grow is one of my favorite challenges I have faced.

On the other hand, a career in digital forensics and incident response work can pose a challenge in terms of avoiding burnout. I deliberately place value on my off time as much as on my work time.

I know that it often feels like, in order to get everything done that needs to be done at work, we need to be there for more and more hours, but burnout is a real and extremely damaging threat. I am conscious of and place limits on my work hours and attempt to work smarter, not harder.

I have found that allowing myself dedicated time to focus on my personal interests (playing music with my band; spending time with my family, friends, and dogs; and spending time outside) allows me to be fully present and invested in what I'm doing when I'm at work.

If I allow that balance to shift too far, I am far less productive at work because I am distracted by all of the other things in my life that I want and need to do, and I am less able to focus on the work in front of me.

All in all, one of the cons is also the best pro: there is no coasting in digital forensics. On any given day, something new and different is likely to turn up and present a new challenge.

That's part of what makes this work so compelling. We might be dealing with a corporate customer crippled by ransomware; attempting to extract and decode data from a point-of-sale card-swiping device, GPS device, or drone for a law enforcement agency; or working on a data theft case for a small business.

Q: What advice would you give to graduates seeking a job after graduation?

A: Send a thoughtful thank you card or email after an interview. It shows that you value the time of the interviewer and the organization for their consideration.

In that same vein, prioritize and hone your soft skills just as much as your technical acumen. Performing the technical work and having technical knowledge is only part of the puzzle. Many digital forensics professionals can uncover the answers, but those answers are only valuable if you can clearly explain your methods and findings to technical and nontechnical audiences alike.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forensic Science Careers