Forensic Science Salary in South Africa

There is no denying the fact that finding the best career for yourself is one of the toughest things that one might have to encounter at such an early age. This is the reason why I am about to share a detailed overview of Forensic Scientist salary and career prospects in South Africa, as a possible career option. If you ask me, being a Forensic Scientist is one of the most exciting jobs that I have ever come across.

Occupation:	Forensic Scientist
Monthly Salary Range:	R 23000 – R 777000
Average Monthly Salary:	R 400000
Description:	A Forensic Scientist has a lot of job responsibilities including attending and examining crime scenes, interpreting criminal data, documenting evidence, and analyzing body tissues for poisons and other substances. Other than that, they are also responsible for writing detailed reports on their findings assisting in civil court cases, and giving evidence in court.
Minimum Qualification:	The qualification requirements for a Forensic Scientist are very stringent due to the nature of this job. You will first have to get a BSc or BSc with Honors in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or physics. After that, you will need to get specialty training in SAPS and get experience working in their forensic laboratories. Later on, you may want to opt for Specialized Study programs such as the National Certificate in Forensic Biology on NQF 6.

It makes you use your brain and make deductions based on the evidence and small hints that you pick up at the crime scenes. You will be personally involved with catching the real culprit behind a folly and bringing him down to justice. If all this sounds interesting to you and you want to know more, keep on reading the following complete article.

Overview of Forensic Science Salary

Being a Forensic Scientist is a highly rewarding career in South Africa. The salary packages are exceptionally good and the job responsibilities are themselves super interesting. The average monthly salary that a Forensic Scientist receives while living and working in South Africa is R 400,000.

Furthermore, the qualification requirements are a little stringent. You will have to get a BSc or BSc Honors in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or physics. Other than that, you will also need to get specialty training in SAPS and get experience working in their forensic laboratories. And finally, you will have to take Specialized Study programs such as the National Certificate in Forensic Biology on NQF 6.

Responsibilities of Forensic Scientists

1. Attend and Examine Crime Scenes

It is the primary responsibility of a Forensic Scientist to personally visit the crime scene and examine it very meticulously. Everything on the crime scene is important, even the positioning of the body and the stuff placed nearby. Hence, the Forensic Scientist is expected to note down everything he/she observes at the crime scene and form connections to the actual crime.

2. Assess and Interpret Criminal Data

It is also the responsibility of a Forensic Scientist to assess and interpret criminal data. He must study every piece of hard evidence he receives very meticulously and then link it with the crime scene. He is supposed to use his analytical skills and judgment and give a logical explanation of the data based on acute deductions.

3. Analyze Body Tissues

A Forensic Scientist also deeply analyzes the body tissues for the presence or intoxication of various poisons or other substances. This task is not always easy and the scientist might have to perform a plethora of tests on the tissue cells before he can pinpoint the name of the poison or the substance.

This is the reason why all Forensic Scientists are experts in chemistry and chemical reactions. They perform complex tests on body tissues and cells to find out the actual cause of death.

4. Document Evidence

A Forensic Scientist is not only supposed to examine the crime scene and the dead bodies but also document all his findings in a proper sequential manner. This documentation must be so well written that any other Forensic Scientist should be able to decipher the findings just by reading the documentation.

FAQs

Can I earn a six-figure salary being a Forensic Scientist in South Africa?

Yes, you can earn a six-figure salary as a Forensic Scientist living in South Africa. It is a highly rewarding career however, you will have to keep upgrading your knowledge by taking various specialized courses to receive such a hefty salary package. Plus, experience and skill set also play a vital role in determining your salary package.

How much can I expect to earn as a Forensic Scientist in South Africa?

The initial salary package for fresh Forensic Scientists stands at R 23,000 per month and it goes up as far as R 777,000. The average monthly salary package that a Forensic Scientist receives in South Africa is R 400,000.

The Bottom Line

So, it is safe to say that Forensic Scientists have good career prospects in South Africa. The salary packages are the best with the starting pay at the entrance level being R 23,000 per month and going as far as R 777,000 per month depending upon the years of experience, skills, and education level. On average, a good Forensic Scientist earns about R 400,000 per month working in South Africa.

Apart from that, the job responsibilities are also very interesting, since you will be directly involved with examining, and reducing the crime scenes and what might have happened at the time the crime was taking place. He also examines dead bodies for cases of death and then writes up a detailed report on all his findings for future reference by himself as well as fellow scientists who might want to study it later on.