Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Salary

Top Cities by Popularity for Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Jobs

Top Cities by Popularity 1. Orlando, Florida 2. Atlanta, Georgia

Salary of Crime Scene Investigator

The popularity of the TV show CSI launched crime scene investigation into the minds of thousands of faithful viewers. It also created a huge interest in real-life jobs for a crime scene investigator, and salary research for forensic science positions has increased as well. All of a sudden, everyone is clamoring to collect and study DNA samples. Okay, there's more to being a crime scene investigator than that, but it's important to distinguish the glamour and excitement of the TV show from the reality of what it's really like to work in the field. Before switching your major to forensic science, keep in mind that crime scene investigators may have to visit gruesome crime scenes and work with some rather unsavory evidence. This may sound exciting to some, but a large part of being a crime scene investigator involves working in a lab, performing tests and analyzing samples. At times, forensic science technicians also give testimony in court cases. If you're debating whether to become a crime scene investigator, and salary is an important factor in your decision, PayScale's data on the salary of crime scene investigators can help you create a solid case.

Crime Scene Investigator - Salary Data

The chart above shows the average salary for a crime scene investigator ranges from around $40,000 to around $65,000 annually. The Salary of a Crime Scene Investigator will of course vary depending on years of experience as well as other factors, including location. Bigger cities generally offer higher salaries than smaller towns, but they also come with a higher cost of living. The average salary for a crime scene investigator might be higher in New York City than in other cities, but how far will that salary go given the city's high cost of living? According to the PayScale Cost of Living Calculator, the median Salary of Crime Scene Investigator in New York ranges from around $35,000 to around $54,000. Contrast that with the cost of housing in New York, which is over 200 percent higher than the national average. This is just one example of how careful research can provide a closer look at life as a crime scene investigator and salary potential in different areas. To research the salary of a crime scene investigator in other cities, use the calculator to compare cost of living data and the median Salary of Crime Scene Investigators across the United States.

To find out more about a Crime Scene Investigator Job Description and salaries for related careers, view the forensic science technician job description page.