Digital Forensic Investigator

Computer forensics, or digital forensics, is a fairly new field. Computer forensics investigators, also known as computer forensics specialists, computer forensics examiners, or computer forensics analysts, are charged with uncovering and describing the information contained on, or the state or existence of, a digital artifact. Digital artifacts include computer systems, hard drives, CDs, and other storage devices, as well as electronic documents and files like emails and JPEG images. The fast-growing field of computer forensics includes several branches related to firewalls, networks, databases, and mobile devices. Digital forensics technicians can find work with many types of organizations: government (local, state, and federal), accounting firms, law firms, banks, and software development companies. Essentially, any organization that has a computer system may have a need for a digital forensics specialist. Some digital forensics specialists opt to start their own businesses, giving them an opportunity to work with a variety of clients.

The salary range for computer forensics analysts and investigators varies widely depending on whether the job is in the private sector or in the public sector. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t provide salary data for computer forensic specialists but does provide data for the related occupation of information security analysts, who earn a median salary of $90,120 per year.1 The employment outlook for digital forensics examiners and investigators is favorable due to the rapid growth of crimes involving computers (cybercrime). According to the BLS, the related occupation of information security analysts is expected to grow by 18% between 2014 and 2024.1

Required Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology
Other Requirements: Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) certification
Projected Job Growth (2014-2024): 21% (Much faster than average)*
Average Salary:(2015) $85,800*



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