The Average Salary of a Forensic Investigator

Forensic investigator jobs are always in high demand. As long as there are people in the world committing crimes, there will be a need for forensic investigators. If you have been looking for a job in criminal justice that can truly excite on a daily basis, this is a great choice to keep in mind. Before you can do that though, you need to make sure you know how much you are going to make in the career. Here is a look at the money you might make as a forensic investigator, courtesy of PayScale.com.

Salary by Years of Experience

Your experience in the field will make a big difference in the kind of employers that want to work with you. The more experience you have, the more money you will have a chance to make. The salary statistics below highlight the average earnings for forensic investigators based on experience:

  • Less than 1 year: $12,208 – $61,042 per year
  • 1-4 years: $29,409 – $80,407 per year
  • 5-9 years: $30,685 – $94,996 per year
  • 10-19 years: $38,129 – $104,482 per year
  • 20+ years: $40,498 – $129,754 per year

Salary by Degree

You will need some kind of degree in order to become a forensic investigator. There are several to choose from, and they all have different pay rates associated with them. You may want to explore your options before settling into one specific education program. The salary statistics below highlight the average earnings for forensic investigators based on education:

  • Associate’s Degree: $32,681 – $68,658 per year
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: $29,851 – $128,466 per year
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: $52,000 – $117,500 per year
  • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice: $31,152 – $117,586 per year
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice: $50,868 – $80,576 per year

Salary by Location

Some states have more crimes than others, and those states usually need forensic investigators more than others. If you can work in a state with a high demand for your services, you will have the best chance of making a good living. The salary statistics below highlight the average earnings for forensic investigators based on location:

  • California: $30,000 – $128,886 per year
  • Florida: $36,766 – $109,616 per year
  • Georgia: $29,590 – $62,551 per year
  • Louisiana: $20,608 – $72,719 per year
  • New York: $44,698 – $110,738 per year
  • North Carolina: $32,215 – $89,396 per year
  • Texas: $33,728 – $103,309 per year

Salary by Employer Type

Have you thought about where you want to work yet? If not, now may be a good time to start. The salary statistics below highlight the average earnings for forensic investigators based on employer:

  • Company: $28,436 – $61,445 per year
  • State and Local Government: $31,328 – $87,315 per year
  • Private Practice: $29,479 – $75,285 per year
  • Federal Government: $36,701 – $127,040 per year

Salary by Company Size

The size of the company you work for ay not have a direct impact on your salary, but it may be nice to look over the salaries for people in different sized companies. This will just let you know if your pay is on the right track. The salary statistics below highlight the average earnings for forensic investigators based on company size:

  • <50: $30,767 - $70,163 per year
  • 50-199: $31,701 – $80,289 per year
  • 200-599: $36,444 – $114,144 per year
  • 600-1999: $41,110 – $83,794 per year
  • 2000-4999: $39,818 – $127,943 per year
  • 5000-19999: $52,758 – $129,584 per year
  • 20000-49999: $75,000 – $91,563 per year
  • 50000+: $52,704 – $108,000 per year

Assess the charts above carefully, and you should be able to use them to approximate your pay in the future.

How Much Money Do Registered Nurses Make?

A registered nurse is a person that works directly with patients to make sure they are properly cared for in a hospital or clinic. RNs are always in high demand, so there is no reason why you cannot get a job in this field. If you have a passion for helping other people and a desire to be more than just a medical assistant, you may do well working as a registered nurse. Before you can decide that though, you need to figure out if this career is going to pay well enough for you. Let’s take a look at the average earnings of RNs across the country so you can determine if this is the right career path for you.

Salary by Certification

There are several certifications that you can choose to get on top of your RN license. These certifications could have a positive impact on your earnings if you hold the right ones. Common pay rates for RNs based on their certification include:

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support: $20.37 – $37.87 per hour
  • Basic Life Support: $19.61 – $35.68 per hour
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: $19.79 – $36.48 per hour
  • Critical Care: $20.22 – $39.62 per hour
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program: $20.65 – $38.15 per hour
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support: $20.51 – $37.70 per hour
  • Registered Nurse: $19.12 – $36.42 per hour

Salary by Years of Experience

As you gain more experience in the field of nursing, you should be able to get a higher paying job. That just depends on how well you take up the opportunities before you. Common pay rates for RNs based on their experience include:

  • 1-4 years: $19.21 – $31.80 per hour
  • 5-9 years: $21.16 – $36.82 per hour
  • 10-19 years: $22.49 – $40.05 per hour
  • 20+ years: $23.12 – $43.13 per hour

Salary by Industry

Some industries have a higher demand for RNs than others, which will impact the amount of money workers can earn within them. Common pay rates for RNs based on their industry include:

  • Acute Care Hospital: $20.83 – $38.68 per hour
  • Healthcare: $19.75 – $36.49 per hour
  • Hospital: $20.38 – $37.20 per hour
  • Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation: $20.52 – $35.35 per hour
  • Medical Services: $19.58 – $36.98 per hour

Salary by State

Registered nurses take on different roles throughout the country. Those roles and the economic environment surrounding them influence the money you may be able to make. Common pay rates for RNs based on their state include:

  • California: $23.86 – $50.92 per hour
  • Florida: $19.62 – $34.07 per hour
  • Illinois: $19.62 – $34.95 per hour
  • New York: $20.14 – $39.54 per hour
  • Ohio: $19.36 – $31.98 per hour
  • Pennsylvania: $20.09 – $36.03 per hour
  • Texas: $20.46 – $35.77 per hour

There are obviously nursing careers that pay more money out there, but this one pays decent money for very limited education. All you need is an associate’s degree to start working as a registered nurse, and then you could be making more than some people do with full master’s degrees. Don’t rush into your career selection without first understanding what your options are. Then you can pick the one that is right for you. It may turn out that registered nursing is the perfect fit after all.

The Average Salary of a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are almost like doctors without the full medical training. They have more training than registered nurses do, but they do not have quite as much as full blown physicians. This is evident in the amount of money they make, which is less than a doctor’s salary but more than a registered nurse salary. If you have been thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner in the near future, you may want to first explore the earning options you will have in this career. That will let you see if the extra schooling is going to be worth your time in the end. Here is a look at the average salary of a nurse practitioner based on various factors that influence the job.

Salary by Years of Experience

Salary progressions are slow at first, but you will eventually see a pretty good increase in your pay rate as you gain experience in this career. Many nurse practitioners make well over $100,000 a year in the latter parts of their career. Common nurse practitioner salary ratings based on this job factor include:

  • <1 year: $59,335 - $86,215
  • 1-4 years: $59,520 – $91,952
  • 5-9 years: $59,969 – $97,079
  • 10-19 years: $59,485 – $104,689
  • 20+ years: $55,261 – $104,588

Salary by Certification

Different states require different certifications for nurse practitioners, so you will need to find out exactly what you need for your area. It cannot hurt to have more than one though, as that may have an impact on your earning potential. Common nurse practitioner salary ratings based on this job factor include:

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support: $63,060 – $99,837
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Board Certified: $55,624 – $102,413
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center: $61,955 – $97,995
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: $60,494 – $98,013
  • Certified Family Nurse Practitioner: $63,275 – $101,984
  • Critical Care: $59,555 – $111,789
  • Family Nurse Practitioner: $62,489 – $97,655
  • Family Practice: $58,723 – $96,352
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support: $61,514 – $100,191
  • Pediatrics: $57,657 – $101,942

Salary by Degree

Most people go through a master’s degree program before becoming a nurse practitioner, but there are some rare positions that do not require this. Common nurse practitioner salary ratings based on this job factor include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: $57,636 – $103,051
  • Bachelor’s Degree: $53,805 – $96,958
  • Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner: $60,973 – $95,217
  • Master of Science in Nursing: $60,957 – $96,427
  • Master of Science in Nursing: $61,428 – $99,508

Salary by Location

As with any job, the pay for nurse practitioners varies throughout the country. There are a number of reasons for this, including economic conditions and standard of living. Common nurse practitioner salary ratings based on this job factor include:

  • California: $69,317 – $109,467
  • Florida: $62,081 – $96,428
  • Georgia: $59,826 – $92,940
  • Illinois: $60,878 – $98,265
  • New York: $59,413 – $101,997
  • Tennessee: $51,942 – $89,144
  • Texas: $58,426 – $101,661

As you can see, there is a great amount of money to be made in this career. Most people find the possible incomes they can make well worth the amount of time they have to spend in school. Take the time to really think this career over and see if it is right for you. If so, there are plenty of degree programs out there to help you get to where you want to be in the work force.

A Comparison of Salaries by Gender

When it comes to making money in today’s society, most people still assume that men make more money than women. Women are seen as equals in the workplace now, but people still assume that they make less money. From what I found, that is only the case in some professions. In those where women were dominant figures, the females actually made more money than the men did. I’ll assume that you are just as curious as I am about this, which is why this article is dedicated to showing just how much money men and women usually make in various occupations. You can use this information to determine what you may make in the future.

Plastic Surgeon Salary by Gender

Plastic surgeons are obviously the doctors that take care of plastic surgery. They use artificial enhancements to change a patient’s appearance. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $148,738 – $390,000 per year
  • Women: $99,436 – $297,476 per year

CIA Agent Salary by Gender

CIA agents are responsible for maintaining the communications within the government and detecting any threats that may come up for the country. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $50,250 – $116,843 per year
  • Women: $59,141 – $99,031 per year

Human Resource Manager Salary by Gender

A human resource manager is a person that deals with all of the hiring and employee conduct in a business. This person may also work as a recruiter, scheduler, or mediator in a company. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $49,328 – $80,351 per year
  • Women: $45,920 – $70,155 per year

Police Officer Salary by Gender

Police officers are the men and women that enforce laws and protect citizens in their area. You may know these people as “cops” or “enemy #1.” The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $37,000 – $65,000 per year
  • Women: $36,000 – $57,000 per year

Criminal Investigator Salary by Gender

A criminal investigator is a person that must look for criminals or information about prospective criminals in a case. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $41,782 – $78,288 per year
  • Women: $43,457 – $82,875 per year

FBI Agent Salary by Gender

An FBI agent is a person responsible for the upper level investigations in the government. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $50,471 – $107,903 per year
  • Women: $42,118 – $61,958 per year

Corrections Officer Salary by Gender

A corrections officer is a person that works within the prison system to keep the peace. In most cases, this person is a man, unless the detention center houses females. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $29,881 – $49,025 per year
  • Women: $27,452 – $36,001 per year

Court Reporter Salary by Gender

A court reporter is a person that must take notes during a court case for people to review later on. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $35,294 – $81,389 per year
  • Women: $35,493 – $69,977 per year

Marketing Coordinator Salary by Gender

Marketing coordinators work under advertisers and marketers to manage specific tasks in a campaign. These people are usually fresh out of college. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $32,258 – $44,672 per year
  • Women: $33,540 – $44,942 per year

Executive Assistant Salary by Gender

An executive assistant is a person that works underneath the corporate officers in a business. This person carries on all of the secretarial duties at that level. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $35,415 – $53,119 per year
  • Women: $38,474 – $56,287 per year

Nurse Practitioner Salary by Gender

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse that has gone through enough education to prescribe medications and examine patients like a doctor would. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $72,496 – $96,881
  • Women: $68,870 – $85,802

Forensic Scientist Salary by Gender

A forensic scientist is a person that uses science to assess evidence from a crime scene. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $40,525 – $93,598 per year
  • Women: $37,151 – $62,713 per year

Certified Public Accountant Salary by Gender

A CPA is a person that handles the financial transactions for a business, including payroll and taxes. Most CPAs work on their own, but some work for big businesses. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $47,735 – $71,265 per year
  • Women: $46,949 – $68,012 per year

CRNA Salary by Gender

A CRNA is a certified registered nursing assistant. Most CRNAs are women, but there are plenty of men in the field as well. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $122,703 – $162,898
  • Women: $118,467 – $154,042

Office Manager Salary by Gender

An office manager is a person in charge of the happenings within an office. The pay rate for this profession will vary greatly by employer. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $34,191 – $53,432 per year
  • Women: $33,261 – $50,135 per year

Cardiac Nurse Salary by Gender

A cardiac nurse is a nurse that specializes in caring for heart patients. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $72,768 – $99,500 per year
  • Women: $76,760 – $95,647 per year

Operations Manager Salary by Gender

Operations managers are in charge of overseeing the general operations of a business. These people are usually men, but not always. The pay range for this profession by gender is as follows:

  • Men: $46,596 – $78,642 per year
  • Women: $40,703 – $65,603 per year

As you can see, man and women go back and forth in terms of who makes more money. You may make more money than the opposite sex in one profession but make significantly less than another. At the end of the day, you just have to find a job that works for you and roll with it. Hopefully that leads to a high salary in the end.