Forensic Science Technicians
Official O*NET title: Forensic Science Technicians (19-4092.00)
Also called: crime lab analyst, crime scene analyst, crime scene technician, criminalist, csi
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing forensic science technicians work
1 of 13 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 8%. 2 newer tasks are not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Train new technicians or other staff on forensic science techniques (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Talk with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes — some recorded AI use
- Examine physical evidence — too new for the AI data
- Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence — no recorded AI use
- Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings — no recorded AI use
- Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit — no recorded AI use
- Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes — no recorded AI use
- Compare objects — no recorded AI use
- Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information — no recorded AI use
- Analyze data from computers or other digital media sources for evidence related to criminal activity — too new for the AI data
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques”. Try the prompt for: “Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and forensic science technicians
Will AI replace forensic science technicians?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 1 of the 15 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 18 of the 24 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which forensic science technician tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes; keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
Which forensic science technician tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity; use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes; testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 64% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a forensic science technician start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Forensic Science Technicians ranks #488 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #45 of 45 in Science & Research.
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