The Need For Forensic Science Careers Is Booming In Baltimore
Popular television shows like CSI and NCIS have led to a growing awareness and interest in forensic science. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the need for forensic scientists is on the rise.
Forensic science careers are forecasted to see just a 6 percent growth rate nationally, but the outlook is much higher in and around Baltimore. This is largely due to the fact that Baltimore has one of the highest per capita crime rates of any other city in the nation. Homicide totals have already surpassed last year's figures, according to Huffington Post, and the demand for forensic related jobs continues to grow.
Forensic careers in Baltimore range in many disciplines including latent prints, digital photography, firearms, tool mark examination, digital multimedia evidence, serology and the popular crime scene investigation division, just to name a few.
Those who work in the crime scene investigation unit are called forensic science technicians/crime scene investigators. These individuals fulfill a number of diverse responsibilities. While at the scene of a crime they observe and collect physical evidence and sometimes take photographs or make sketches. After evidence is collected, the investigator also catalogs it when transferring it to the lab for analysis. He or she also presents findings to team members, attorneys and sometimes even appears in courtroom trials. Other forensic science technicians specialize strictly in laboratory work.
Because crime can happen at any time, it is not uncommon for forensic science technicians specializing in crime scene investigations to work evenings, holidays and constantly changing shifts. Lab-based technicians normally work standard weekday hours.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that the national average salary for forensic science technicians is $55,040, with the top 10 percent making $82,990 and those on the low-end hovering around $40,000.The annual mean wage for forensic science technicians in the state of Maryland is $65,800 with the mean in Baltimore ranging at around $59,800.
More than 80 percent of forensic science jobs are governmental. Most require applicants to have at least a bachelor's degree, usually in a scientific field such as chemistry, biochemistry or biology. Other fields include medical technology, genetics, pharmaceutical science, criminal justice or forensic science. Schools that offer accredited forensic science programs in the Baltimore region include Coppin State University, Stevenson University, Towson University, the University of Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park.
Laura Catherine Hermoza has a lifelong love for writing. In addition to serving as a contributor to various media publications, she is also a published novelist of several books and works as a proofreader/editor. LC resides in Baltimore County.