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What Can You Do With a Digital Forensics Degree? Jobs
Key takeaway: Digital forensics (CIP 43.0403, Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism) is the evidence degree: imaging drives, parsing logs, writing reports that survive cross-examination, and staying inside the Fourth Amendment. Arizona State University sells a bachelor's. It is not [cybersecurity](/programs/cybersecurity) (defend the network) and it is not [forensic science](/programs/forensic-science) (the lab). The [cybercrime](/programs/cybercrime) silo is the policy-and-investigation sibling. The degree does not make you a sworn detective and does not replace a crime-lab scientist credential. Chain of custody and tool validation are the parts that get cases thrown out; if a program never makes you write a report, pick a different one.
A lot of ‘digital forensics’ job ads are information security analyst seats with a forensics tool listed. Wage figures on this page use that SOC (15-1212) as the volume occupation and name forensic science technicians and detectives as the lab and sworn alternatives.
Jobs you can get with a digital forensics degree
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $129,180 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $72,060 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $105,850 |
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | 34,200/yr |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 31,300/yr |
| Information Security Analysts | 16,000/yr |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 14,300/yr |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 9,600/yr |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 7,800/yr |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 3,900/yr |
| Forensic Science Technicians | 2,900/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians. Median means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less.
Information Security Analysts. The national median annual wage was $129,180, with the 10th percentile at $75,090 and the 90th at $199,850 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 182,800 in 2024, projected to grow 28.5 percent through 2034, with 16,000 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). See how to become a digital forensics analyst. Detectives and Criminal Investigators. The national median annual wage was $93,790, with the 10th percentile at $55,390 and the 90th at $160,540 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 117,900 in 2024, projected to grow -0.7 percent through 2034, with 7,800 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Forensic Science Technicians. The national median annual wage was $72,060, with the 10th percentile at $48,250 and the 90th at $117,250 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 20,700 in 2024, projected to grow 12.8 percent through 2034, with 2,900 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Computer Systems Analysts. The national median annual wage was $105,850, with the 10th percentile at $67,340 and the 90th at $167,710 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 521,100 in 2024, projected to grow 8.7 percent through 2034, with 34,200 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034).
The jobs this degree does not get you
The degree does not make you a sworn detective and does not replace a crime-lab scientist credential. Chain of custody and tool validation are the parts that get cases thrown out; if a program never makes you write a report, pick a different one.
What the degree level changes
The online bachelor’s in digital forensics is the entry credential in this CIP. The online master’s in digital forensics is the advancement or specialization credential. Compare cybersecurity, forensic science, cybercrime before you enroll if those titles match the job you actually want.
Common questions
What jobs can you get with a digital forensics degree?
Common occupations include information security analysts, detectives and criminal investigators, forensic science technicians, computer systems analysts.
How much do digital forensics majors make?
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians include $129,180 for information security analysts, $93,790 for detectives and criminal investigators, $72,060 for forensic science technicians, $105,850 for computer systems analysts. Individual outcomes vary.
Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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