Wildlife Forensic Scientist

Also called: Wildlife Forensics Specialist

Uses DNA, chemistry, and anatomy to solve crimes against wildlife.

A day in the life

Works at the world's only full-service wildlife crime lab (US Fish & Wildlife Service, Oregon), identifying whether a confiscated ivory carving came from an elephant or a mammoth, or matching a poached deer to blood in a truck.

Pay over a career

Starting

$60k

Typical

$85k

High

$120k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in forensic science, genetics, or biology.

Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: Forensic Science, Genetics, Biology.

Outlook

Growing about average. Very few positions.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Lab automation and AI speed DNA and species ID; courtroom-ready conclusions still need human experts.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Forensic science elective, AP Statistics.

• Join Science Olympiad (Forensics event)
• Do a DNA or species-ID science fair project
• Do Mock Trial

Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4092.

More Wildlife & Conservation Biology careers

• Wildlife Veterinarian
• Research Wildlife Biologist
• Endangered Species Program Manager
• Conservation Organization Director
• Wildlife Biologist
• Fish & Game Warden
• Ornithologist
• Wildlife Refuge Manager
• Wildlife GIS Analyst
• Wildlife Damage Management Specialist
• Wildlife Technician
• Interpretive Park Ranger
• Wildlife Removal Specialist
• Hunting & Fishing Guide
• Wildlife Photographer
• Wildlife Special Agent
• Wildlife Disease Biologist
• Bat Biologist
• Wildlife Capture Specialist
• Camera Trap Technician
• Bear Management Technician
• Game Bird Farmer
• Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling Technician

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.