What they do
Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.
|
|
Also called: |
Crime Scene Evidence Technician, Crime Scene Investigator, Crime Scene Technician, Criminalist, Field Identification Specialist, Forensic Specialist, Identification Officer, Identification Technician, Latent Fingerprint Examiner, Latent Print Examiner
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wages
|
Detectives and Criminal Investigators* |
Vermont - 2023 |
Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
10% |
$ 32.29 |
$67,160 |
25% |
$ 36.93 |
$76,810 |
Median |
$ 47.78 |
$99,380 |
75% |
$ 49.87 |
$103,730 |
90% |
$ 71.03 |
$147,740 |
|
Average |
$ 47.69 |
$99,200 |
* You're seeing information for "Detectives and Criminal Investigators" because it includes "Police Identification and Records Officers" for which wage information is not available. |
1 What are Percentile Wages? |
|
More at CareerOneStop |
|
| |
Industries of Employment
Detectives and Criminal Investigators* |
United States - 2022 |
Industry | Percent of total |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 40% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 38% |
- State government, excluding education and hospitals
| 20% |
| 1% |
- Educational services; state, local, and private
| 0% |
* You're seeing information for "Detectives and Criminal Investigators" because it includes "Police Identification and Records Officers" for which industries of employment information is not available. |
More at BLS |
|
|
|
Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
|
- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
|
- Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
|
- Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
|
- Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Skills
People in this career often have these skills: |
- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
|
- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
|
- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
|
- Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
|
- Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
|
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
|
- Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
|
What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
|
|
|
Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
|
- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
|
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
|
- Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
|
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Tasks
On the job, you would: |
- Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
|
- Package, store and retrieve evidence.
|
- Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
|
- Testify in court and present evidence.
|
- Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Related Occupations
|
|
|
|
Career Video
|
|
Projected Employment
|
Detectives and Criminal Investigators* |
Vermont |
2022 employment |
187 |
2032 employment |
203 |
Annual percent change (compounded) |
0.8% |
Annual projected job openings (due to change and separations) |
16 |
* You're seeing information for "Detectives and Criminal Investigators" because it includes "Police Identification and Records Officers" for which projected employment information is not available. |
More at Occupational Projections |
|
| |
Education and Experience:
Detectives and Criminal Investigators* |
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
|
- Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
|
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Moderate-term on-the-job training
|
* You're seeing information for "Detectives and Criminal Investigators" because it includes "Police Identification and Records Officers" for which education and experience information is not available. |
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
|
|
|
Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
- Physical activity is Important
|
- Level of activity is Moderate
|
|
|
Low | | High |
|
|
|
Compare Occupations at O*NET |
|
|
|
Job Zone
Medium Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(6.0 to < 7.0) - A typical worker will require
over 1 year up to and including 2 years
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
|
Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
|
|
|
Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have? |
Education level | | Percent of U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or post-BA certificate | | 22% |
Bachelor's degree | | 26% |
Associate's degree | | 28% |
Certificate or some college, no degree | | 11% |
High school diploma or equivalent | | 13% |
Less than high school diploma | | 0% |
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Abilities
People in this career often have talent in: |
- Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
|
- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
|
- Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
|
- Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
|
- Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Work Activities
In general, what you might do: |
- Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
|
- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
|
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
|
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
|
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day: |
- Document legal or regulatory information.
|
- Write operational reports.
|
- Process forensic or legal evidence in accordance with procedures.
|
- Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
|
- Analyze crime scene evidence.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Other Resources
|
- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
|
- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|