◆ Forensic Science

What a crime scene investigator csi
really does.

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

20evidenced tasks
114,430in the US (2025)
$93,790median pay / year
9systems it runs on
See the 20 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Photograph evidence
Photograph the bloodied handgun, cartridge cases on the living room ru…2 sources agree

The shape of the day

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The work, task by task

20 tasks
Hands on the work18
Photograph evidence+
Photograph the bloodied handgun, cartridge cases on the living room rug, and a 3cm laceration on the victim's temple with scale and multiple angles, verify exposure and metadata, then upload the RAW files to the case folder and log chain-of-custody.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Take fingerprints.+
Lift and photograph latent prints from the front door handle, dresser drawer and kitchen tap using powder and tape, record sequence and technician initials, scan the high-resolution impressions and attach them to the suspect file for comparison.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Dust selected areas of crime scene and lift latent fingerprints, adhering to proper preservation procedures.+
Dust the living room doorway, window ledge, and kitchen sink for latent prints, lift any developed prints onto numbered cards using adhesive lifters, photograph each lift with scale, place cards into paper evidence envelopes, and document preservation steps before transporting to the lab.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Perform emergency work during off-hours.+
Respond to tonight's priority scene, conduct immediate scene security and lifesaving checks, document initial observations and scene integrity, collect perishable evidence under emergency protocol, log actions in the incident log, and notify on-call detective before handing scene back.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Interview survivors, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel.+
Interview the surviving witness and the neighbor who heard the altercation, use open questions to establish timeline, record the session with consent, note inconsistencies and stress indicators, obtain signed witness statements, and notify the lead detective of any admission or probable cause.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Apprehend offenders+
Apprehend the suspect observed near the scene using arrest team procedures, advise them of their rights, secure any weapons, photograph and inventory personal effects, transport to booking while documenting use-of-force decisions and notifying supervising officer.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Perform patrol activities+
Conduct the evening patrol of assigned sector on foot and in vehicle, check known hot-spot addresses, make contact with unsecured businesses, log observations and suspicious activity in the shift log, and immediately report any scene requiring CSI response.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Use different communication channels+
Notify dispatch, patrol sergeant Jaime Ortiz, and the on-call detective by text, radio and email that I am at 412 Maple with a secured perimeter, list visible hazards and evidence locations, and request a K9 and traffic control within ten minutes.
esco
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Keep it safe2

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
8 tasksMicrosoft Wordcreates the incident narrative and documents chain-of-custody actions for the emergency callOpen its task library → 4 tasksMicrosoft Excelmaintains a running patrol log and incident tally that recalculates counts as entries updateOpen its task library →
3 tasksDataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScenecaptures and stores scene images with metadata and case linking for evidence management
3 tasksDeChant Consulting Services iWitnessdocuments and links fingerprint images and collection notes to case records for later comparison
3 tasksAdobe Photoshopannotating and clarifying photographs of the scene
2 tasksMicrosoft Officeemail and document drafting for incident notifications
2 tasksMicrosoft Visiodiagramming vehicle positions, skid marks and closure zones for reports
1 taskMicrosoft Windowssystem environment for running communication tools
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The same task, four heights

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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 crime scene investigator csi 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
  • $93,790 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $55,390; the top tenth near $160,540
  • 114,430 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 job6 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register14 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild2 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures UK NOS SFJCN601Evaluate the forensic investigation of scenesnational standard UK NOS SFJCN401Manage forensic investigations at scenesnational standard

Close to this work

12 nearby
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Questions people actually ask

You usually split time between scenes and the lab or office. Mornings can start with responding to a new scene: secure the area, photograph evidence, dust for latent fingerprints, and package items for transport.

Afternoons often mean entering reports in Microsoft Word, logging evidence in systems like DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene, running images through Adobe Photoshop for clarity, and preparing exhibits for court. You also handle phone calls, email, and occasional night or emergency calls.

Fieldwork uses cameras, fingerprint kits, and evidence bags; back at the office you’ll use DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene or DeChant iWitness for case and chain-of-custody records. Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), and sometimes Microsoft Visio for scene diagrams are common.

For image editing use Adobe Photoshop; if your unit uses Linux for servers or tools you might encounter that too. Know how to export from scene software into Word and Excel for reports and spreadsheets.

Follow strict chain-of-custody: tag, photograph, pack, seal, and log each item in the evidence system such as DataWorks Plus. Use clear labels, time-stamped photos, and document every transfer so the record shows who had it and when.

Preserve prints by dusting and lifting properly, store items in appropriate containers, and keep digital files (photos, reports) backed up. Court asks for that paper trail and the methods you used, so be precise and consistent.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 114,430 employed CSIs (SOC 33-3021.02). The median wage is $93,790 per year, the lowest tenth is $55,390, and the top tenth is $160,540 per year, according to BLS 2025 data.

Actual pay depends on employer (local police, state lab, private), experience, certifications, and overtime. Expect entry-level public jobs to start near the low end and specialized roles or supervisors toward the high end.

Use AI cautiously. AI can help draft reports, transcribe interviews, or flag inconsistencies in documents, but never alter original evidence files. Keep originals and record every change; AI-generated text must be reviewed and signed by you.

Never rely on AI for making forensic conclusions unless your department has validated and documented the tool. Court will require you to explain methods and error rates, so use AI for drafting or organizing, not for untested scientific claims.

Patrol officers first-secure scenes, enforce laws, and detain offenders; detectives investigate crimes and interview witnesses to build cases. CSIs focus on evidence: photographing, fingerprinting, packaging, and preserving items for lab analysis and court.

CSIs use specialized systems (DataWorks Plus, iWitness) and lab techniques (dusting for latent prints, image enhancement). You might work with patrol and detectives, but your role is technical—documenting and preserving the physical proof.

Attention to detail. You must photograph correctly, label evidence, log chain-of-custody in systems like DataWorks Plus, and write clear reports in Word and Excel. One missed tag or poor photo can weaken a case.

Learn basic scene processes (fingerprint dusting and lifting, proper packaging), practice digital skills (Windows, Office, Photoshop), and get comfortable testifying about methods and preservation in court. Training, certifications, and a clean record matter too.