Tests body fluids for drugs, alcohol, and poisons in death investigations and DUI cases.
Runs blood samples through a mass spectrometer to find which drugs were present, then explains what the levels mean in court.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in chemistry; master's or PhD for senior/board-certified roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Toxicology, Forensic Science.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Estimate.
Medium risk for 10 years. Automated mass spec screening and AI flag drugs; explaining levels in court and new-drug detection stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2031.
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.