Forensic Science Technician salary in the U.S.
Forensic Science Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $72,060 a year ($34.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,250 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $79,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for forensic science technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| 25th percentile | $57,830 | $27.81 |
| Median | $72,060 | $34.65 |
| 75th percentile | $94,520 | $45.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,250 | $56.37 |
| Average (mean) | $79,200 | $38.08 |
Half of forensic science technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,005 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,002.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,771.54 |
| Weekly | $1,385.77 |
| Hourly | $34.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Forensic Science Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $124,790 | 370 |
| California | $102,100 | 2,800 |
| Connecticut | $85,910 | 120 |
| Colorado | $84,010 | 510 |
| Montana | $82,200 | 60 |
| Maryland | $82,140 | 460 |
| New York | $81,670 | 1,140 |
| Washington | $81,310 | 390 |
| Nevada | $81,090 | 360 |
| Oregon | $80,950 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $79,320 | 290 |
| Minnesota | $76,960 | 140 |
| Vermont | $74,110 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $72,280 | 310 |
| Idaho | $71,160 | 160 |
| North Dakota | $71,090 | 40 |
| Maine | $70,870 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | 300 |
| Virginia | $68,900 | 770 |
| Iowa | $67,060 | 130 |
| Utah | $66,780 | 220 |
| Indiana | $66,520 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $65,940 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $65,920 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $65,570 | 200 |
| Florida | $64,140 | 1,920 |
| Georgia | $63,600 | 550 |
| West Virginia | $63,330 | 110 |
| Arizona | $63,250 | 900 |
| New Jersey | $63,220 | 60 |
| Missouri | $62,750 | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,580 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $61,470 | 60 |
| Texas | $59,870 | 1,900 |
| Alabama | $59,560 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $59,240 | 520 |
| Mississippi | $52,850 | 140 |
| Wyoming | $52,100 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $51,830 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $51,690 | 30 |
| Arkansas | $44,670 | 100 |
Best-paying metro areas for forensic science technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,280 | 140 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $112,790 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,930 | 330 |
| Akron, OH | $106,330 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,320 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,410 | 1,170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,810 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $101,780 | 160 |
| New Haven, CT | $98,250 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,460 | 230 |
| Toledo, OH | $95,330 | 40 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $88,670 | 110 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,460 | 80 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $87,280 | 70 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $87,170 | 340 |
Metro areas with the most forensic science technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 300 | $66,440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 300 | $61,580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 280 | $82,320 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,560 | $26.23 |
| Agricultural Technician | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,240 | $53.00 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4092. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forensic science technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for forensic science technicians in the U.S. is $72,060 a year, or $34.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid forensic science technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of forensic science technicians in the U.S. earn at least $117,250 a year. The top 25% earn $94,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for forensic science technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,250 a year, and a quarter of forensic science technicians earn $57,830 or less.
How many forensic science technicians work in the U.S.?
About 19,120 forensic science technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.