◆ Forensic Science

What a ballistics examiner
really does.

18 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.

18evidenced tasks
19,120in the US (2025)
$72,060median pay / year
8systems it runs on
See the 18 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Reconstruct crime scenes
Reconstruct the downtown shooting scene on Elm Street: map bullet traj…2 sources agree

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The work, task by task

18 tasks
Hands on the work15
Reconstruct crime scenes+
Reconstruct the downtown shooting scene on Elm Street: map bullet trajectories from the recovered casings and wall impacts, place the shooter and victim positions, photograph scaled measurements, then export a scene diagram and email it to Detective Morales by Tuesday with notes on uncertain sightlines.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Examine and analyze blood stain patterns+
Document and measure the bloodstain patterns from the kitchen scene at 42 Pine Avenue, photograph with scale, record droplet size and angles, reconstruct likely positions and movements, then prepare a bloodstain analysis summary for the case file and Detective Ng by Monday.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Perform tests on weapons or substances+
Perform functional and firing tests on the seized pistol and run chemical analysis on residue from the barrel and hands, log serial and condition, calibrate the chronograph first, record results in the weapon test report, and submit it to the prosecutor by Friday.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment+
Inspect, calibrate and certify the laboratory ballistic comparator and the microscope this week, replace any worn parts, run control samples to verify accuracy, log maintenance and calibration certificates, and notify the lab manager when complete.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Testify as expert witnesses in court+
Prepare my courtroom testimony for next Wednesday: assemble chain-of-custody, exhibit photographs, ballistic comparison report and a one-page expert summary, rehearse answers to probable cross-examination with Lead Counsel Alvarez, and upload exhibits to the court portal by close of business Monday.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Observe laboratory activities+
Observe the firearms comparison run in Lab 3 today, note each technician's steps, safety lapses, deviations from SOP, and any equipment adjustments, then submit a concise observation report to Chief Forensic Scientist by 1700 with photos of the test setup attached.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Prepare samples for testing+
Prepare three bullet and three cartridge case samples from Exhibit 21 for rifling and microscope analysis: clean, label with case and evidence numbers, document weights, and place in the designated evidence trays ready for microscopic comparison by 0900 tomorrow.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Laboratory techniques+
Perform the laboratory technique checklist on the comparison microscope before today's series: run the alignment grid, verify magnification calibration, note any drift or aberration, and sign off the calibration log so the next examiner can proceed.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Keep the record1
Work with people1
Grow the practice1

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
8 tasksMicrosoft Worddrafts the expert summary, organizes exhibits and prepares formal testimony documentsOpen its task library → 5 tasksMicrosoft Excelrecords test parameters, firing results and residue measurements in a structured reportOpen its task library →
3 tasksAdobe Photoshopprocess and align high-resolution photographs of impression marks for side-by-side visual comparison
2 tasksMicrosoft Visiolays out measured stain patterns and angles into a clear schematic for reports
2 tasksLinuxoperates and automates instrument calibration routines and logs on lab workstations
2 tasksMicrosoft PowerPointcreates a concise exhibit slideshow to support testimony in court
1 taskComputer aided design and drafting CADDcreates accurate scaled scene diagrams and trajectory lines for reconstruction
1 taskMicrosoft Outlooksend the report and attach photos to the chief
Browse every evidenced software task →

The same task, four heights

this page is height one
ExecuteDo today's task, with fewer mistakesyou are here → ImproveMake it easy for the next person to acceptin the atlas → DecideWork out the right move when it is unclearin the atlas → BecomeLearn the pattern so it stops coming backin the atlas →

Can AI actually do this job?

the honest answer

It can

where it genuinely helps
  • Explain the theory behind the work
  • Draft, tidy and structure your writing
  • Rehearse a hard conversation before you have it
  • Build a study plan that fits your gaps

It cannot

where it stops, completely
  • Be in the room where a ballistics examiner actually works
  • Carry the responsibility when the call is wrong — that weight stays yours
  • Notice what no one wrote down: the hesitation, the thing left unsaid
  • Live with the outcome

What the work pays

two countries, two different measures

United States

this exact occupation · BLS 2025
  • $72,060 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $48,250; the top tenth near $117,250
  • 19,120 people employed in this occupation

India

the occupation GROUP, not this job · PLFS via ILOSTAT 2025
  • ₹26,152 a month — the median for Technicians and associate professionals, the group this work sits in
  • India publishes pay by broad occupation group, so this covers many jobs besides this one. It is a shape, not a salary.
read this carefullyThese two numbers are not comparable and must not be converted into each other. One is a yearly figure for this job alone; the other is a monthly figure for a whole family of jobs. What travels between them is the pattern, not the amount: experience lifts pay almost everywhere.

Where the evidence lives

open any of it yourself
O*NETThe US Department of Labor's own record of this job9 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register7 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild10 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures UK NOS SFJCN403Undertake forensic examinations at scenes of incidentsnational standard UK NOS SFHHPC5Provide forensic examination and interpretation of injuriesnational standard

Close to this work

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Questions people actually ask

A day mixes lab work and field work. You might start by inspecting firearms or restoring a damaged gun to recover a serial number, then prepare and test shoot samples in the lab to compare bullet markings.

Afternoons can include photographing evidence with Adobe Photoshop for reports, recording test sequences in Microsoft Word or Excel, and sometimes going to court to testify about your findings as an expert witness.

Expect Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for reports, data, and court presentations. Adobe Photoshop is used for image cleanup and annotation. Linux may run some lab instruments or analysis tools, and CADD or Microsoft Visio helps make scene sketches and diagrams.

You’ll also handle microscopes, comparison microscopes, test-firing equipment, and calibration tools. Digital media analysis tools appear when evidence includes photos or video.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 19,120 ballistics examiners in 2025. The median wage was $72,060 per year; the lowest tenth earned $48,250 and the top tenth earned $117,250. Those BLS numbers describe the US workforce, not guarantees for any job.

Pay varies by agency, location, and experience. Federal labs and large city crime labs usually pay more than small county labs.

Start with a degree in forensic science, criminalistics, physics, or mechanical engineering. Take lab courses that teach microscopy, chemistry, and measurement techniques. Learn Microsoft Office and basic Linux commands; some labs use CADD or Visio for scene diagrams.

Look for internships or volunteer work at local crime labs or university forensic programs. Training on firearms, test-firing ranges, and evidence handling usually continues on the job.

They overlap but are different. CSIs document and collect evidence at scenes — photographs, sketches, and packaging. Ballistics examiners focus on firearms, bullets, cartridge cases, tool marks, and reconstructing shootings, often doing lab comparisons under a microscope.

A CSI might use Microsoft Visio to sketch a scene; a ballistics examiner uses comparison microscopes, test-firing, and Photoshop for detailed bullet imaging and lab reports.

AI can help draft report language, summarize test sequences you recorded in Word or Excel, or assist with slide drafts in PowerPoint. Always verify every AI suggestion against your lab notes and raw data; do not rely on AI to interpret ballistic marks or replace microscope comparison.

Never upload case images or sensitive evidence to public AI services. Follow your agency’s policy for secure systems and chain-of-custody rules; mistakes or leaks can ruin a case.

Hands-on lab skills: preparing samples, using microscopes and measuring equipment, calibrating instruments, and recording accurate test sequences. Familiarity with firearms, how to test-fire safely, and restoring serial numbers helps a lot.

Soft skills: clear written reports in Word/Excel, clean photographic documentation (Photoshop), giving calm courtroom testimony, and training new technicians when needed.