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Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians earn a median $72,060 a year in the U.S., with 19,120 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $72,060 a year
- Employment
- 19,120
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +13.3%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 2,800
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $72,060 · $34.65 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $79,200 · $38.08 an hour (estimate error ±0.8%)
- 10th percentile
- $48,250 · $23.20 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $57,830 · $27.81 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $94,520 · $45.44 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $117,250 · $56.37 an hour
- Employment
- 19,120 (estimate error ±1.0%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 20,100
- Projected for 2035
- 22,800
- Change
- +2,700 (+13.3%)
- Openings each year
- 2,800
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 0.9%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $124,790 | 370 |
| 2 | California | $102,100 | 2,800 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $85,910 | 120 |
| 4 | Colorado | $84,010 | 510 |
| 5 | Montana | $82,200 | 60 |
| 6 | Maryland | $82,140 | 460 |
| 7 | New York | $81,670 | 1,140 |
| 8 | Washington | $81,310 | 390 |
| 9 | Nevada | $81,090 | 360 |
| 10 | Oregon | $80,950 | 110 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2,800 | $102,100 |
| Florida | 1,920 | $64,140 |
| Texas | 1,900 | $59,870 |
| New York | 1,140 | $81,670 |
| Arizona | 900 | $63,250 |
| Virginia | 770 | $68,900 |
| Michigan | 650 | Not reported |
| Georgia | 550 | $63,600 |
| North Carolina | 520 | $59,240 |
| Colorado | 510 | $84,010 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,280 | 140 |
| 2 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $112,790 | 260 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,930 | 330 |
| 4 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,320 | 220 |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,410 | 1,170 |
| 6 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $101,780 | 160 |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,460 | 230 |
| 8 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $88,670 | 110 |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $87,170 | 340 |
| 10 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $87,020 | 170 |
| 11 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,070 | 660 |
| 12 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,320 | 280 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,170 | $104,410 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 800 | $81,670 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 660 | $85,070 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 620 | $65,220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 590 | $57,180 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 490 | $77,820 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 380 | $65,230 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 370 | $63,840 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 360 | $70,130 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 340 | $87,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 330 | $109,930 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 300 | $81,780 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)6 certified filingsMedian offered wage $78,760
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)2 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Forensic Science Technicians pay by state
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
- Agricultural Technicians
- Food Science Technicians
- Biological Technicians
- Chemical Technicians
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
- Hydrologic Technicians
- Nuclear Technicians
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Forest and Conservation Technicians
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
Frequently asked questions
- How much do forensic science technicians make?
- The median wage for forensic science technicians in the U.S. is $72,060 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,830 and $94,520.
- Which state pays forensic science technicians the most?
- Illinois has the highest median wage for this occupation at $124,790 a year.
- What is the job outlook for forensic science technicians?
- BLS projects employment to grow 13.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,800 openings each year on average.
- What education do forensic science technicians need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.