What is a Forensic Engineer? Salary & Job Description

The field of forensic engineering can best be described as failure investigation. While engineering is primarily tasked with designing and constructing structures that will be sound and designs that will operate safely, failures can still occur. Even with extensive structural and product testing, the most meticulous designs can still falter during and after construction or in the manufacturing stages. In the event that a building collapses or a car part does not function as it is supposed to, a forensic engineer is responsible for determining the causes of failure and providing expert testimony on how to fix an existing structural problem.

The duties of forensic engineers can be divided into two parts: investigation and engineering. Investigatory skills are needed soon after a structure or a manufactured part fails. In the cases of catastrophic structural collapse causing death, injury, and destruction or failed experiments, forensic engineers work with law enforcement or design teams to look for evidence to explain the causes of failure. Examples of these events could be the collapse of a partially completed pedestrian bridge at an outdoor construction site or an automotive crash test in a design laboratory. In both instances, a forensic engineer collects data by observing the wreckage and collecting evidence of the damaged materials to determine the reasons for structural failure.

Using engineering principles and practices, a forensic engineer analyzes the collected evidence and makes an official assessment of the causes of structural failure. In cases of catastrophic failure, a report written by a forensic engineer can be used as litigation. Forensic engineers may also be called into legal matters to testify as to why a structure collapsed. In cases of product design failure, a forensic engineer works with design and manufacturing teams to assess the reasons the materials failed and provide guidelines to prevent structural failure from happening again.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) states that the primary purpose of the forensic engineering profession is “the application of engineering principles to the investigation of failures or other performance problems.” The ASCE is a leading professional development organization for engineers and provides books, professional development courses, journal publications, and job listings for current and aspiring forensics engineers.

Read on to learn more about the challenging career of a forensic engineer.

Meet the Expert: Taylor Bendt, MS

Taylor Bendt is a senior forensic engineer and owner of Talbott Associates with an extensive background in electrical, power, and control engineering. He holds a master’s in electrical and power engineering from Portland State University and a bachelor of science in biochemistry and biophysics from Oregon State University. He has unparalleled skills and experience in industrial control systems failures and fires.

Now, as a forensic engineer, Bendt leverages his unique experience to provide world-class failure analysis in residential and industrial settings. Taylor has honed his skills in forensic engineering since 2019, specializing in large industrial fires and equipment failures caused by electrical malfunctions. He has continued to develop his technical knowledge by studying battery failure analysis and metallurgy.

ForensicsColleges.com: What is something most people don’t know about being a forensic engineer?

Bendt: Forensic engineering is an excellent opportunity to explore a breadth of topics! Unlike design settings, engineers engaged in forensics are challenged with unique and varied cases. Even with a history in one specific type of engineering, a forensic engineer gets to explore how electrical, mechanical, materials, and other disciplines all tie together.

Additionally, forensic engineering, particularly fire investigation, involves a lot of time outdoors and doing hands-on work. This can mean working directly with excavators, digging for evidence, or cutting into failed equipment with large tools. It is truly refreshing to get out from behind a desk and work directly on investigations to find out what happened.

ForensicsColleges.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone aspiring to be a forensic engineer?

Bendt: Focus on getting some industry experience before getting into forensics. While it isn’t strictly necessary, having direct experience with how engineering works outside of forensics helps lend your opinions credibility and gives perspective. An engineering license is also required when presenting yourself as an expert witness. Be prepared for some level of confrontation. It may only be a few times per year, but depositions can be grueling, and they may not be for everyone.

Additionally, working inspections with other parties can sometimes require mild confrontation and disagreement. Luckily, these tension points are few and far between, but they are certainly part of the job.

Lastly, the industry can be prone to very busy or slow seasons. Consider this when establishing your salary or commission structure and negotiating with employers.

Career Outlook for Forensic Engineers

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report career-specific data for forensic engineers, but projections for the related field of civil engineering show an expected growth of 6 percent nationally between 2023 and 2033 (22,100 fresh positions)—a rate which is as fast as the national average (BLS 2024). These jobs will be needed to keep pace with construction and project management plans to rebuild and repair existing structures and ensure that new infrastructure is safe and sound for civilians.

Forensic and civil engineers are employed in a variety of working locations including indoor office work and outdoor construction sites. The top employment sectors for civil engineers are listed below (BLS May 2023):

Architectural, engineering, and related services: 176,160 employed
State government, excluding education and hospitals: 35,970
Local government, excluding education and hospitals: 33,550
Nonresidential building construction: 22,620
Federal government, excluding postal service: 10,020

Forensic Engineer Salary

In March 2025, PayScale.com reported the average forensic engineer salary to be $93,262, with bonuses of up to $20,000 and profit-sharing opportunities valued at $11,000. The BLS does not list occupational statistics for forensic engineers, but data for the closely related civil engineering profession shows the median salary of civil engineers as $95,890 per year (BLS May 2023). The bottom 10th percentile of forensic engineers earn less than $63,220, while the highest 10th percentile earn more than $150,640.

There are a number of factors that affect salary calculations for forensic engineers:

Cost of living in a specific area
Years of work experience
Number of currently employed forensic engineers in a local area
Employment in the private or public sector
Specialization courses or documented continuing education

How to Become a Forensic Engineer

It takes approximately eight years of post-secondary education and professional experience to become a licensed engineer. Read on to learn more about the educational and licensing requirements needed to become a forensic engineer.

Step 1: Graduate from High School (Four Years)

High school students aspiring to study forensic engineering are advised to take as many courses as possible in mathematics, drafting, statistics, natural sciences, computer science, criminal justice, and communication skills and to keep their grades high in order to gain admission to a reputable engineering college or university program.

Step 2: Complete an ABET-accredited Bachelor’s Degree Program in Engineering (Four Years)

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is an organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in engineering and related fields. ABET accredits 4,144 programs at 812 colleges and universities in 32 countries. Attending an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree program in engineering is required in many states for professionals seeking certification and licensure in engineering.

An example of an on-campus ABET-accredited engineering program is the bachelor of science in architectural engineering offered by the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. Students in this four-year program take courses in design, structural engineering, construction management, and other engineering-related disciplines. Most students go on to careers as structural engineers, a discipline that is closely related to forensic engineering, and students in this program gain unique expertise in the strength of materials and structural seismic design applications.

Step 3: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and is the first of two exams required to become a licensed engineer.

The FE exam is designed for recent graduates who have already completed or will soon complete an engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree program.

There are seven specific types of exams tailored to different types of engineering:

Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Electrical and computer engineering
Environmental engineering
Industrial and systems engineering
Mechanical engineering
Other disciplines of engineering

Step 4: Gain Professional Engineering Experience (Four Years)

In order to become eligible to take the second and final engineering licensing exam offered by NCEES, most states require candidates to provide proof of four years of post-college work experience in the engineering industry.

Step 5: Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is offered by NCEES to candidates with an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering and four years of professional engineering experience. Upon earning a passing score, which is determined by individual state licensing boards, candidates will earn official licensure credentials as a Professional Licensed Engineer (PE) and be eligible to legally practice as a licensed engineer.

There are several specialized exams for different types of engineering disciplines:

Agricultural and biological engineering
Architectural engineering
Chemical
Civil
Control systems
Electrical and computer
Environmental
Fire protection
Industrial and systems
Mechanical
Metallurgical and materials
Mining and mineral processing
Naval architecture and marine
Nuclear
Petroleum
Structural

While NCEES does not offer an examination for forensic engineering, the cross-disciplinary nature of this field allows for engineers in certain areas of specialization to serve as professional experts for specific situations. For example, in the case of a bridge collapse, an architectural engineer could provide the investigatory, structural, and legal skills needed to manage problems related to structural failure.

Step 6: Earn a Master’s or Doctoral Degree (Two to Four Years)

While an advanced degree in engineering is typically not required for licensure, there are several advantages to earning a master’s or doctoral degree in engineering. Advanced degrees allow engineering professionals to show their dedication to the discipline, specialize and advance their knowledge base in engineering, and earn higher salaries. Engineers with advanced degrees may have more opportunities to gain leadership positions or serve in professional development capacities.

The Department of Technology Systems at East Carolina University offers two fully online master’s programs and one fully online doctoral degree in technology management and occupational safety—all of which are accredited by ABET. Students in these programs learn advanced problem-solving skills and technological decision-making methods applicable to applied engineering research. Graduates from these programs are prepared to enter upper-level leadership positions in fields of occupational and technical engineering which are closely related to forensic engineering.

Forensic Engineer Tasks and Responsibilities

Due to the high liability of failure investigation, forensic engineers must be technically proficient in their specialty areas and clear and concise communicators. The tasks of a forensic engineer include figuring out the cause of failure in order to make improvements or determine the objective facts of an accident for legal proceedings. Attention to detail and keen knowledge of the scientific method are necessary in order to be an effective forensic engineer.

Tasks and responsibilities of forensic engineers can include:

Observing a scene after a structural failure
Collecting forensic evidence at the site of a structure failure
Using scientific and engineering knowledge to determine the cause of structural failure
Managing the repair or replacement of infrastructure
Writing official reports documenting structural failure
Testifying in legal proceedings involving structural failure
Providing risk analysis at construction sites
Being familiar with the structural properties of a variety of building materials

Specialty Fields Related to Forensic Engineering

The multidisciplinary field of forensic engineering is unique in that structural failure can happen in various locations. While a forensic engineer can be experienced in various fields, having board certification in a specific field can help a candidate gain more professional notoriety and opportunities. The following board certifications offered by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) require a minimum of a PE license or foreign equivalent, a master’s degree, and eight years of post-licensure experience in engineering:

Coastal engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Navigation engineering
Ocean engineering
Ports engineering
Water resources engineering
Envision sustainability professional

Forensic Engineering Certification

As previously mentioned, the first steps toward earning an engineering license include earning an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering, passing the FE exam, gaining four years of documented engineering experience, and passing the PE exam. The FE and PE exams are offered by the NCEES. It is worth noting that every state has unique requirements for engineers to become licensed, and engineers aspiring to pursue licensure are advised to know the licensure requirements for the states in which they would like to practice as an engineer.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has resources to help engineers earn professional certification credentials in a specialty area, prepare for exams through specialized courses, and learn about professional development and networking opportunities.

Finally, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) offers three unique designations to engineering professionals with PE licensure and seven to 20 years of experience in management:

Management Engineer (MgtEng)
Executive Engineer (ExecEng)
Management Professional (MgtPro)

Writer

Rachel Drummond, MEd

Rachel Drummond has given her writing expertise to ForensicsColleges.com since 2019, where she provides a unique perspective on the intersection of education, mindfulness, and the forensic sciences. Her work encourages those in the field to consider the role of mental and physical well-being in their professional success.

Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.

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