Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Top skills:WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningComplex Problem Solving
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Forensic Science Technician pay by experience level
Entry level$50,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$60,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$74,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$98,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$121,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+12.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,900
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Forensic Science Technician salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
17,710 workers
$82,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
12,610 workers
$82,000
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,000 workers
$81,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
490 workers
$72,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
360 workers
$57,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
340 workers
$49,500
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
330 workers
$49,000
Educational Services
250 workers
$64,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
250 workers
$64,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
230 workers
$65,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Forensic Science Technician pays 18% below the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Need Forensic Science Technician pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
