The Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR)
accredits reconstructionists throughout the world. "The actual number of ACTAR
certified individuals would be approximately 600," says Robert McElroy. He
founded an automotive forensic investigation firm.
There aren't a lot of people qualified to do this work. "There's a very
short supply," says McElroy. He explains that "it takes very specific qualifications"
to get into the field and that many people simply don't meet the requirements.
Who is most likely to land the jobs? "Somebody that has either advanced
engineering degrees or a professional engineering license in addition to specialized
training and background in automotive technology," says McElroy.
Salaries can be quite high. "An average starting salary would be around
$60,000," says McElroy.
However, he adds that salaries in this field increase significantly over
time. "This is one profession where, when you get older, you do become more
valuable."
Earnings and employment information from the U.S. Department of Labor is
not available for this field at this time.