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Those who wish to work on the proverbial front lines of criminal justice, handling and analyzing physical evidence related to criminal actions, might pursue either a degree in crime scene investigation or forensic science. And, to be sure, a university or college-level degree in one of these fields can be an excellent first step.
While their responsibilities distinguish these jobs, forensic scientist and CSI careers are predicted to be in demand in the coming years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2025) shows that between 2024 and 2034, forensic science technicians will grow faster than the national rate for all occupations (3 percent), while crime scene investigators are expected to show a slight decline in growth.
Police and detective careers are estimated to shrink 1 percent, losing up to 800 positions between 2024 and 2034 (BLS 2025). By comparison, forensic science technician jobs will increase by 13 percent, creating 2,600 fresh forensic tech CSI openings in the same decade (BLS 2025).
Most entry-level positions for police and detectives have a criminal justice focus and require completion of police academy training or a two- or four-year degree, depending on the position. On the other hand, entry-level positions in forensic science require a bachelor’s degree in natural science and some coursework in criminal justice.
But before picking one over the other, it is crucial to fully understand the similarities, differences, and overlaps between these two careers. In light of this, below you will find a brief overview of degrees in crime scene investigation and forensic science, along with a side-by-side comparison of requirements, work environments, and other details for each profession.
Similarities, Differences, and Overlap
To begin, it is imperative to understand the similarities between these two fields of study. Both degrees will allow graduates to work in the criminal justice field, and both are focused specifically on the aftermath of a crime. Indeed, the ultimate objective of crime scene investigators and forensic scientists is aligned: to help enforce justice by gathering and analyzing evidence, then presenting that evidence in court (either as an expert witness or through attorneys) to uncover the truth.
Outside this overarching goal, however, the two fields of study diverge. While the education of a crime scene investigator may include some science courses, an aspiring forensic scientist should expect to take a heavy load of science courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics, to prepare for the forensic analysis process.
Furthermore, because forensic scientists largely operate in lab settings, a significant portion of their education will be conducted in labs. In contrast, because crime scene investigators spend most of their time in the field, a CSI degree focuses more on investigative procedures and criminal investigation, with much less lab time.
A crime scene investigator is often one of the first professionals at a crime scene (after first responders), tasked with examining the location and gathering evidence relevant to the investigation, including photographs and physical evidence. This evidence is sent to a laboratory, where a forensic scientist will analyze it using various scientific methods. Each of these professionals plays an integral role in the flow of an investigation in the criminal justice system.
Finally, it’s important to note that a crime scene investigator and a criminal investigator (or detective) are different. Indeed, the former gathers and analyzes information at the crime scene, but once all necessary information has been collected and analyzed from this location, his or her work concludes (unless they are called to testify in court). On the other hand, criminal investigators or detectives are responsible for carrying out the full criminal investigation through to completion.
| Featured CSI & Forensic Science Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stevenson University Online | Online Master of Forensic Science (MFS) | |
| Stevenson University Online | Online Master's in Crime Scene Investigation | |
| Arizona State University | Forensic Science (BS) | |
| Arizona State University | Forensic Science (PSM) | |
| Purdue Global | BSCJ - Crime Scene Investigation | |
| ECPI University | Crime & Intelligence Analysis (Bachelor's) | |
| Southern New Hampshire University | BA in Psychology - Forensic Psychology | |
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Side-By-Side Comparison: Crime Scene Investigation vs. Forensic Science
Below you will find a side-by-side comparison of crime scene investigation and forensic science. Those interested in pursuing a degree in either field should use this as a convenient reference when deciding on a course of study.
| Crime Scene Investigator | Forensic Scientist | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of Profession |
Crime scene investigation, like forensic science, uses scientific and social analysis techniques to assist law enforcement in uncovering all available information about a crime. Crime scene investigators work at the crime scene, gathering relevant evidence for later analysis. | Unlike crime scene investigators, forensic scientists do not visit the crime scene. Instead, they work in a lab environment, examining and analyzing evidence provided by investigators to help law enforcement agencies pursue justice. |
| Academic Topics Covered | Students in crime scene investigation programs will spend most of their education learning about collection techniques, evidence handling and storage, crime scene procedure, and criminal justice overall. These students will also likely take courses in law and legal philosophy, as well as lab-based science, though not to the same extent as those in a forensic science program. | A student pursuing a degree in forensic science will inevitably be immersed in all varieties of lab-based science, including biology, chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, and physics. Furthermore, these students will focus on other subjects related to criminal analysis, including chemistry and pathology, with a focus on forensics. |
| Typical Courses |
Although the curriculum will vary depending on the institution,
courses that a student of crime scene investigation will likely take
include the following:
Introduction to criminal justice Introduction to forensics Criminology Judicial process Corrections Crime scene photography and management Forensic fingerprint analysis Trace evidence analysis Violent crime scene analysis Criminal law and investigations Criminal justice ethics |
The following is a sample list of classes that would likely be found
in any undergraduate or graduate forensic science program: Biology (including cell biology, microbiology, and molecular biology) Chemistry (including biochemistry, physical chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, and quantitative chemistry) Physics Calculus Pharmacology Genetics Statistics Instrumental and forensic analysis Crime and society Forensic anthropology and pathology |
| Specializations | Crime scene investigation may be a standalone program, or may be housed within the degree of criminal justice, and considered a specialization or concentration area itself. In such cases, there would typically be no further specialization available. |
In some programs, forensic science is often a greater specialization
within criminal justice.
However, when forensic science is a standalone program, it will likely place a strong emphasis on laboratory science, and students may have the opportunity to specialize in fields such as toxicology, DNA analysis, or death investigation. In some programs, a student may also specialize in computer forensics and cybercrime, which may be a useful degree for employment in emerging occupations in the future. |
| Job Titles | Upon obtaining a degree in crime scene investigation (or a technician certificate), students will be prepared to work as crime scene investigators or technicians. | A degree in forensic science allows the holder to obtain employment as a forensic scientist, generally in a laboratory setting. |
| Work Environments | Crime scene investigators (and technicians) will work directly at the crime scene, analyzing the scene and gathering evidence relevant to the investigation. Because crime occurs at all hours of the day, investigators may remain on call as determined by their employers. When not at a crime scene, these individuals may perform other tasks at a police station or other law enforcement agency. | Forensic scientists and technicians generally work in a lab setting, where they analyze the evidence provided by the crime scene investigation team. These scientists often have a routine schedule, unlike crime scene investigators. In some cases, forensic scientists or technicians may also work in morgues or a coroner’s office. |
| Degree Opportunities | Upon obtaining an undergraduate degree in crime scene investigation, a student may go on to pursue a master of science (MS) degree in the same field, or a graduate certificate, which can aid in obtaining employment with a greater amount of responsibility and associated pay. | After receiving a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, a student may continue on to obtain a graduate certificate, master’s degree, or a PhD in the same field. Those who pursue PhD programs will be better positioned for future careers in teaching or research. Also, a student with an undergraduate degree in biology or another natural science may be well qualified to pursue a graduate degree in forensic science. |
| Responsibilities |
Crime scene investigation technicians are also responsible for
gathering evidence at the scene of a crime, although they work
directly under the supervision of a crime scene investigator.
The education requirements are generally lower for technicians than they are for investigators; indeed, a crime scene technician needs only obtain a certificate in the field (instead of an undergraduate degree) before seeking employment. A crime scene technician will likely have a limited working knowledge of forensics, although he or she will be well versed in collection techniques, criminal procedure and law, and evidence handling and storage. | Forensic science technicians (also referred to as forensic lab technicians) are no different than forensic scientists; indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes all work performed by a forensic scientist as that of a forensic science technician. |
| Online Degree Programs |
The following is a list of schools that offer online degree programs
in crime scene investigation: Purdue Global (BS in criminal justice with crime scene investigation concentration) St. Petersburg College (AS in crime scene technology) National University (Graduate certificate in forensic and crime scene investigations) ECPI University (BS in criminal justice with crime and intelligence analysis concentration) |
The following is a list of schools that offer online degree programs
in forensic science: Arizona State University (Online professional science master’s in forensic science) Stevenson University (Online master’s in forensic science) University of Central Florida (MS in forensic science) Southern New Hampshire University (BA in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology) |
| Salary, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 (the latest data available as of April 2026) |
There are 110,790 detectives and criminal investigators employed in
the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May
2024): Average annual salary: $98,770 10th percentile: $54,160 25th percentile: $68,390 50th percentile (median): $93,580 75th percentile: $120,080 90th percentile: $159,410 |
There are 19,450 forensic science technicians employed in the U.S.,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2024): Average annual salary: $75,260 10th percentile: $45,560 25th percentile: $53,310 50th percentile (median): $67,440 75th percentile: $88,710 90th percentile: $110,710 |
| Salary as per PayScale self-reported data, as of April 2026 | Data as reported by 150 crime scene investigators to PayScale as of April 2026: 10th percentile: $44,000 50th percentile (median): $59,797 90th percentile: $81,000 | Data as reported by 215 forensic scientists to PayScale as of April 2026: 10th percentile: $41,000 50th percentile (median): $58,449 90th percentile: $86,000 |
| The states with the highest number of employees, as per the BLS May 2024 (the latest data available as of April 2026) | States with the highest number of detectives and criminal investigators employed as of May 2024, as per the BLS: Texas: 18,020 California: 11,900 New York: 9,410 Florida: 6,310 Arizona: 5,220 | States with the highest number of forensic science technicians employed as of May 2024, as per the BLS: California: 3,100 Florida: 2,440 Texas: 1,990 New York: 1,120 Arizona: 880 |
| States that paid the highest annual salaries as per the BLS May 2024 (the latest data available as of April 2026) | States that paid the highest annual average salaries to detectives and criminal investigators, as per the BLS May 2024: Maryland: $127,850 Alaska: $127,090 Hawaii: $124,950 Massachusetts: $118,660 | States that paid the highest annual average salaries to forensic science technicians as per the BLS, May 2024: Illinois: $106,120 California: $99,390 Ohio: $89,330 Michigan: $85,070 Maryland: $82,730 |
| The Bottom line |
A degree in crime scene investigation is an excellent choice for an
individual who wishes to work in the criminal justice field,
especially at crime scenes.
A student in this field can expect to take courses focusing on criminal procedure and evidence management and some courses in lab-based science. A graduate may find employment as a crime scene investigator, who works directly with law enforcement to help uncover all relevant information about a crime in the pursuit of justice. |
Anyone wishing to work in the field of criminal justice by analyzing
crime scene evidence provided by investigators should consider a
degree in forensic science.
Forensic science students should expect to take biology, chemistry, physics, pathology, and anthropology courses, many of which include labs. Forensic scientists (or forensic science technicians) generally work in a laboratory setting, handling and examining evidence and providing their findings to criminal detectives for further action, or testifying in a court of law. |
Comparison of Salaries and Employment: Crime Scene Investigation vs. Forensic Science
As noted above, crime scene investigators and forensic science technicians are both growing professions. The table below compares the salaries of each profession, nation-wide, per the BLS (May 2023)—the latest data available as of March 2025:
| Detectives and criminal investigators | Forensic Science Technicians | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 106,730 | 17,520 |
| Average annual salary | $95,930 | $71,540 |
| 10th percentile | $50,670 | $41,410 |
| 25th percentile | $64,830 | $54,480 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $91,100 | $64,940 |
| 75th percentile | $116,170 | $84,720 |
| 90th percentile | $154,360 | $107,490 |
As with all statistics, the amounts can vary depending on the reporting entity. For example, PayScale, (March 2,025) which relies on employee-reported data, shows the following nationwide:
| Crime scene investigator | Forensic scientists | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of professionals reporting | 192 | 259 |
| 10th percentile | $41,000 | $41,000 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $55,470 | $57,274 |
| 90th percentile | $81,000 | $88,000 |
The BLS reports the states with the highest number of employees in each profession are as follows:
| Detectives and criminal investigators | Number employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 16,460 |
| California | 10,980 |
| New York | 9,030 |
| Florida | 6,010 |
| Arizona | 5,250 |
| Forensic science technicians: | Number employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,390 |
| Texas | 2,220 |
| Florida | 2,030 |
| Arizona | 860 |
| Virgina | 700 |
As shown below, the states with the highest number of employees differs in many instances with those in which professionals in both fields earn the highest salaries:
| Detectives and criminal investigators | Number employed | Annual average salary |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 130 | $121,770 |
| Hawaii | 430 | $121,000 |
| Maryland | 980 | $119,900 |
| New York | 9,030 | $118,350 |
| California | 10,980 | $115,910 |
| Forensic science technicians | Number employed | Annual average salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2,390 | $98,400 |
| Illinois | 370 | $95,750 |
| Connecticut | 130 | $82,620 |
| New York | 590 | $82,610 |
| Massachusetts | 120 | $82,520 |
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterRachel Drummond has given her writing expertise to ForensicsColleges.com since 2019, where she provides a unique perspective on the intersection of education, mindfulness, and the forensic sciences. Her work encourages those in the field to consider the role of mental and physical well-being in their professional success.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.