19 Series · SOC 19-4092
Forensic Science Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $72,060
- Median / year
- $117,250
- Top 10% earn
- +12.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 19,120
- US workers
Forensic Science Technicians earn a median of $72,060 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $72,060, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $48,250 (10th percentile) to $117,250 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 19,120 US workers. Illinois pays the most ($124,790), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Forensic Science Technicians earn a median of $72,060, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 63% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #34 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 12.8% by 2033.
- $72,060
- Median annual wage
- Top 37%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #34 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Illinois at $124,790. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) pays a national median of $72,060 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $48,250 at the 10th percentile to $117,250 at the 90th, with a mean of $79,200 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 19,120 Americans work in this occupation across 41 reporting states and 96 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +12.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Illinois pays the highest state median at $124,790, which is +73% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $137,280 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$72,060
per year
Median Hourly
$34.65/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$79,200
average
Employment
19,120
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Forensic Science Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$72,060 Top 37% higher than 63% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Forensic Science Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 19-series occupations with growth data, Forensic Science Technicians sits on the faster-growing side at +12.8% growth and $72,060 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+12.8%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
2,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Forensic Science Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- ▸ Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- ▸ Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- ▸ Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- ▸ Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- ▸ Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
- ▸ Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
- ▸ Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
- ▸ Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
- ▸ Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$48,250
25th Percentile
$57,830
Median
$72,060
75th Percentile
$94,520
90th Percentile
$117,250
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 41 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $124,790 | +73% above national |
| 2 | California | $102,100 | +42% above national |
| 3 | Connecticut | $85,910 | +19% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $84,010 | +17% above national |
| 5 | Montana | $82,200 | +14% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $82,140 | +14% above national |
| 7 | New York | $81,670 | +13% above national |
| 8 | Washington | $81,310 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Nevada | $81,090 | +13% above national |
| 10 | Oregon | $80,950 | +12% above national |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $79,320 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $76,960 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Vermont | $74,110 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $72,280 | same as national |
| 15 | Idaho | $71,160 | 1% below national |
| 16 | North Dakota | $71,090 | 1% below national |
| 17 | Maine | $70,870 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Tennessee | $70,500 | 2% below national |
| 19 | Virginia | $68,900 | 4% below national |
| 20 | Iowa | $67,060 | 7% below national |
| 21 | Utah | $66,780 | 7% below national |
| 22 | Indiana | $66,520 | 8% below national |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $65,940 | 8% below national |
| 24 | Nebraska | $65,920 | 9% below national |
| 25 | New Mexico | $65,570 | 9% below national |
| 26 | Florida | $64,140 | 11% below national |
| 27 | Georgia | $63,600 | 12% below national |
| 28 | West Virginia | $63,330 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Arizona | $63,250 | 12% below national |
| 30 | New Jersey | $63,220 | 12% below national |
| 31 | Missouri | $62,750 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $61,580 | 15% below national |
| 33 | Kentucky | $61,470 | 15% below national |
| 34 | Texas | $59,870 | 17% below national |
| 35 | Alabama | $59,560 | 17% below national |
| 36 | North Carolina | $59,240 | 18% below national |
| 37 | Mississippi | $52,850 | 27% below national |
| 38 | Wyoming | $52,100 | 28% below national |
| 39 | South Carolina | $51,830 | 28% below national |
| 40 | South Dakota | $51,690 | 28% below national |
| 41 | Arkansas | $44,670 | 38% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 96 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,280 | +91% above national |
| 2 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $112,790 | +57% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,930 | +53% above national |
| 4 | Akron, OH | $106,330 | +48% above national |
| 5 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,320 | +46% above national |
| 6 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,410 | +45% above national |
| 7 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,810 | +43% above national |
| 8 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $101,780 | +41% above national |
| 9 | New Haven, CT | $98,250 | +36% above national |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,460 | +32% above national |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $95,330 | +32% above national |
| 12 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $88,670 | +23% above national |
| 13 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,460 | +21% above national |
| 14 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $87,280 | +21% above national |
| 15 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $87,170 | +21% above national |
| 16 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $87,020 | +21% above national |
| 17 | Topeka, KS | $86,670 | +20% above national |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $85,200 | +18% above national |
| 19 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,070 | +18% above national |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $84,010 | +17% above national |
| 21 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,320 | +14% above national |
| 22 | Missoula, MT | $82,200 | +14% above national |
| 23 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $82,040 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,930 | +14% above national |
| 25 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $81,780 | +13% above national |
| 26 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,670 | +13% above national |
| 27 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,970 | +11% above national |
| 28 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,320 | +10% above national |
| 29 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $78,480 | +9% above national |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $78,170 | +8% above national |
| 31 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $77,820 | +8% above national |
| 32 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $77,630 | +8% above national |
| 33 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76,960 | +7% above national |
| 34 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $76,230 | +6% above national |
| 35 | Boise City, ID | $75,460 | +5% above national |
| 36 | Jackson, TN | $74,020 | +3% above national |
| 37 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $73,740 | +2% above national |
| 38 | Fort Wayne, IN | $72,510 | +1% above national |
| 39 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $71,780 | same as national |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $71,470 | 1% below national |
| 41 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $71,160 | 1% below national |
| 42 | Knoxville, TN | $70,500 | 2% below national |
| 43 | Richmond, VA | $70,160 | 3% below national |
| 44 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $70,130 | 3% below national |
| 45 | Oklahoma City, OK | $69,390 | 4% below national |
| 46 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $67,750 | 6% below national |
| 47 | Cheyenne, WY | $67,640 | 6% below national |
| 48 | Birmingham, AL | $67,340 | 7% below national |
| 49 | Omaha, NE-IA | $67,160 | 7% below national |
| 50 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $66,440 | 8% below national |
| 51 | Rochester, NY | $66,340 | 8% below national |
| 52 | Roanoke, VA | $65,620 | 9% below national |
| 53 | Baton Rouge, LA | $65,240 | 9% below national |
| 54 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $65,230 | 9% below national |
| 55 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $65,220 | 9% below national |
| 56 | Charleston, WV | $63,920 | 11% below national |
| 57 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $63,840 | 11% below national |
| 58 | Savannah, GA | $63,840 | 11% below national |
| 59 | Wichita, KS | $63,420 | 12% below national |
| 60 | Bismarck, ND | $63,360 | 12% below national |
| 61 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $63,150 | 12% below national |
| 62 | Jackson, MS | $63,040 | 13% below national |
| 63 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $62,790 | 13% below national |
| 64 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,760 | 13% below national |
| 65 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $62,270 | 14% below national |
| 66 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $62,160 | 14% below national |
| 67 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,120 | 14% below national |
| 68 | Lincoln, NE | $61,680 | 14% below national |
| 69 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,580 | 15% below national |
| 70 | Tucson, AZ | $61,380 | 15% below national |
| 71 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $61,130 | 15% below national |
| 72 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $60,740 | 16% below national |
| 73 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $59,950 | 17% below national |
| 74 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $59,660 | 17% below national |
| 75 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,240 | 18% below national |
| 76 | Jacksonville, FL | $59,020 | 18% below national |
| 77 | El Paso, TX | $58,890 | 18% below national |
| 78 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $57,820 | 20% below national |
| 79 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $57,470 | 20% below national |
| 80 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $57,450 | 20% below national |
| 81 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $57,180 | 21% below national |
| 82 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $55,820 | 23% below national |
| 83 | Tallahassee, FL | $55,620 | 23% below national |
| 84 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,380 | 23% below national |
| 85 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $55,150 | 23% below national |
| 86 | Lubbock, TX | $54,970 | 24% below national |
| 87 | Corpus Christi, TX | $51,710 | 28% below national |
| 88 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,370 | 29% below national |
| 89 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $51,330 | 29% below national |
| 90 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $51,230 | 29% below national |
| 91 | Asheville, NC | $51,050 | 29% below national |
| 92 | Fayetteville, NC | $49,670 | 31% below national |
| 93 | Columbia, SC | $45,990 | 36% below national |
| 94 | Winston-Salem, NC | $45,950 | 36% below national |
| 95 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $43,800 | 39% below national |
| 96 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $41,600 | 42% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Forensic Science Technicians make? ▼
What state pays Forensic Science Technicians the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Forensic Science Technicians? ▼
How dangerous is being a Forensic Science Technicians? ▼
Is Forensic Science Technicians a good career? ▼
How does Forensic Science Technicians pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Forensic Science Technicians? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Forensic Science Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $94,520/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Illinois leads at $124,790/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.