Forensic Scientist - Pay and progression
Kaipūtaiao Taihara
Pay
At Environmental Science & Research (ESR), the main employer of forensic scientists, salaries vary from about $40,000 to $60,000 a year, depending on the position. Scientists doing forensic casework can earn about $80,000 a year or more.
Forensic scientists employed by the police may earn more.
According to the 2006 Census, forensic scientists earned an average of $52,700 a year and worked an average of 43 hours per week. This includes full and part-time workers.
This information is provided as a guide only
Career Progression
If you have a Bachelor of science with Honours, or a Masters in science, you could start work as a forensic technician. Most people start in the position of senior forensic technician, doing fairly advanced work under the supervision of a scientist.
Increasingly, a PhD is preferred for moving up to permanent scientist positions. As you move up from the technician level through to the senior scientist level, your role involves an increasing amount of interpretation of the results of forensic analysis.
With further experience, senior forensic scientists may move into management positions.
Updated
June 2008
