Function

• Crime lab analysts use principles of chemistry and biology to analyze evidence obtained from crime scenes. Through the information they gather, analysts help identify suspects and recreate details of a crime, such as what type of murder weapon was used in a homicide.
  
  

Types

• In large crime labs, analysts often focus on one type of testing, such as DNA analysis, ballistics (the analysis of weapons) or toxicology (locating evidence of drugs and alcohol in a person's system). Analysts may work for federal, state, county, city and other local levels of law enforcement.
  
  

Skills

• Successful crime lab analysts possess attentiveness to detail, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, oral communication abilities to testify in court proceedings and writing skills to construct reports. The ability to use scientific, database, email and word processing software is generally necessary as well.
  
  

Education

• Most employers prefer to hire analysts who have at least a bachelor's degree in a field like forensic science, chemistry, pharmacology, physics or criminology.
  
  

Compensation

• As of May 2008, forensic scientists like crime lab analysts averaged annual salaries of $52,960, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.