Additionally, Hilbert College also has dedicated forensic labs and mock crime scene rooms. While FEPAC accreditation is the gold standard for forensic science programs, it is important to note that a forensic science program that lacks accreditation from FEPAC is not necessarily subpar. Rather, FEPAC accredits only a small number of programs and focuses its efforts on those with heavily science-focused curriculums, making Forensic Investigator Lessons many criminal justice and crime scene investigation programs ineligible for accreditation. Pace University in the Big Apple offers both bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in forensic science. With the support of the chemistry and biology departments, these programs have access to an innovative DNA sequencing lab and specialized equipment for crime scene construction, document analysis, and forensic microscopy.
Achieving the proper level of education is an important part of becoming a computer forensics investigator. Another important step is developing the skills and gaining the experience that employers want to see in applicants. According to Burning Glass Labor Insights, 83 percent of cybersecurity job postings (including those for computer forensics investigators) require that applicants have at least three years of experience in the field, with an average of more than five years preferred.
How Much Does a Computer Forensics Investigator Make?
By working as a network analyst, IT support specialist, or systems engineer, you can build practical technical knowledge that can serve as a foundation for more advanced digital forensics skills. In addition to high average salaries and available jobs, each of these roles offers professionals ample opportunity for advancement. It is not uncommon for computer forensics investigators to eventually pivot their careers in the direction of leadership by becoming a senior investigator or director, or by starting their own consulting agency or private practice. In the case of more senior-level positions, advanced degrees are more commonly required. The programs involve more than 400 classroom hours of hands-on forensic training and are taught by expert faculty members who have real-life experience in the field of crime scene investigations. The programs also include internships with law enforcement agencies and investigators.
According to Payscale data from March 2023, midcareer computer forensics investigators make an average salary of $89,530 — over $17,000 higher than the $72,290 average their early career counterparts earn. Regardless of educational background, these careers require professionals to develop skills in IT and forensics. In addition to on-the-job experience, workers can pursue professional certifications or advanced degrees to build the requisite body of knowledge for this field.
Computer forensics investigator salary
The school’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (FNSSI) boasts a world-class faculty and ample opportunities for students to practice what they learn in real-world settings. CyberSeek classifies “cyber crime analyst” as an entry-level role in cybersecurity. Getting your start with a job in digital forensics could open up opportunities for more advanced, better-paying roles like penetration tester, cybersecurity consultant, cybersecurity manager, or security architect. Maryville University also offers an online bachelor of science program in cybersecurity comprising 128 credits and an online master of science program in cybersecurity made up of 30 credits.
This course dives into the scientific principles relating to digital forensics and gives you a close look at on-scene triaging, keyword lists, grep, file hashing, report writing and the profession of digital forensic examination. The Windows Registry Forensics course shows you how to examine the live registry, the location of the registry files on the forensic image, and how to extract files. Finally, the Windows OS Forensics course covers windows file systems, Fat32, ExFat, and NTFS. You will learn how these systems store data, what happens when a file gets written to disc, what happens when a file gets deleted from disc, and how to recover deleted files. You will also learn how to correctly interpret the information in the file system data structures, giving the student a better understanding of how these file systems work. This knowledge will enable you to validate the information from multiple forensic tools properly.