Forensic Science Technicians: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $57,830–$94,520. 19,120 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 2,800 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Medium preparation.
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $124,790 |
| California | $102,100 |
| Connecticut | $85,910 |
| Colorado | $84,010 |
| Montana | $82,200 |
| Maryland | $82,140 |
| New York | $81,670 |
| Washington | $81,310 |
| Nevada | $81,090 |
| Oregon | $80,950 |
| Massachusetts | $79,320 |
| Minnesota | $76,960 |
| Vermont | $74,110 |
| Wisconsin | $72,280 |
| Idaho | $71,160 |
| North Dakota | $71,090 |
| Maine | $70,870 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 |
| Virginia | $68,900 |
| Iowa | $67,060 |
| Utah | $66,780 |
| Indiana | $66,520 |
| Oklahoma | $65,940 |
| Nebraska | $65,920 |
| New Mexico | $65,570 |
| Florida | $64,140 |
| Georgia | $63,600 |
| West Virginia | $63,330 |
| Arizona | $63,250 |
| New Jersey | $63,220 |
| Missouri | $62,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,580 |
| Kentucky | $61,470 |
| Texas | $59,870 |
| Alabama | $59,560 |
| North Carolina | $59,240 |
| Mississippi | $52,850 |
| Wyoming | $52,100 |
| South Carolina | $51,830 |
| South Dakota | $51,690 |
| Arkansas | $44,670 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA$104,410
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$81,670
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV$85,070
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ$65,220
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$57,180
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach FL$77,820
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL$65,230
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell GA$63,840
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos TX$70,130
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$87,170
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$109,930
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MD$81,780
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge used
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Realistic (hands-on), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Forensic Science Technicians: questions
How much do forensic Science Technicians make?
Forensic Science Technicians earn a U.S. median $72,060 a year; the middle half earn $57,830 to $94,520 (BLS, May 2025).
Is forensic Science Technicians a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 13.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,800 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a forensic Science Technician?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 34% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required.
How much do forensic Science Technicians make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $64,140 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $72,060 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-4092. Method
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Cite this: “Forensic Science Technicians: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/forensic-science-technicians.