Forensic Toxicologist
Salary: $33,600.00 - $57,330.00 Annually
Location : 61 - RANKIN COUNTY, MS
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 9645-0713-20251120RN
Department: 0713 - DPS-DIVISION OF CRIME LABORATORIES
Opening Date: 11/21/2025
Closing Date: 11/26/2025 11:59 PM Central
Agency Minimum Salary: $33,600.00
Agency Maximum Salary: $57,330.00
About the Agency: The Mississippi Department of Public Safety's goal is to make Mississippi a safer place for the state's three million residents. Our employees perform a variety of tasks, including issuing driver's licenses and firearm permits, patrolling our roads and highways, keeping drugs off the streets, providing training and certification to law enforcement agencies, conducting forensic analysis and investigations, and much more. For questions regarding this position please contact [click to reveal email address].
About the Position: This position is with Mississippi Forensic Laboratory, PEARL, MS, in RANKIN COUNTY. This journeyman-level position will serve as a Forensic Toxicologist. This applicant will be responsible for, but not limited to, work that involves planning and executing scientific experiments, receiving physical items as evidence into the lab for processing. Some primary duties of a forensic toxicologist include:-Performing human-performance forensic toxicology, determining the absence or presence of drugs and chemicals in the blood, hair, tissue, breath, etc.-Measuring the concentration of substances within the tissues.-Researching the effects of alcohol or substance consumption under specific circumstances.-Working with medical examiners to determine if substances contributed to a person's death-Helping measures the effects of certain chemicals.-Providing expert witness testimony in court proceedings.-Complying with safety, quality control, and other administrative criteria.
What you'll need to be Successful: Critical Thinking; Good Laboratory Practices; Observation and Attention to Detail; Computer Proficiency
Preferred Qualifications: Typically requires a bachelor's degree related to forensic, chemical, physical, or biological science and 0-2 years of experience. Specific degree and/or certification requirements based on assigned unit. Hiring agency preferred qualifications: A minimum of 24 credit hours in Chemistry to include Analytical Chemistry or Quantitative Analysis.
No available description
Health/Prescription InsuranceEligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits
Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance
All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances
Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.
Paid Personal Leave and Sick LeaveFull-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave
In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays
Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs
The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at [click to reveal website link]
Deferred Compensation
State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union
All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training
The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities
Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders
Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01
How many years of relevant experience do you have? (Refer to the job posting for an explanation of relevant experience.)
- No experience
- 1 year of experience
- 2 years of experience
- 3 years of experience
- 4 years of experience
- 5 years of experience
- 6 years of experience
- 7 years of experience
- 8 years of experience
- 9 years of experience
- 10 years of experience
- More than 10 years
02
What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed?
- None
- GED or High School Equivalency Diploma / High School Diploma
- 30 semester hours
- Associate's Degree / 60 semester hours
- 90 semester hours
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Specialist Degree
- Doctorate Degree
Required Question