Average Salary for Forensic Science Technicians
SOC 19-4092 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in the United States is $67,440 ($32.42/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $45,560 at the 10th percentile to $110,710 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 19,450 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 21.8% since 2014.
Median Annual
$67,440
Mean Annual
$75,260
10th Pct
$45,560
75th Pct
$88,710
Employment
19,450
Salary Distribution
$46k
10th
$53k
25th
$67k
Median
$89k
75th
$111k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $131,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,930 |
| Akron, OH | $102,230 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $100,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $99,670 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $97,040 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $96,770 |
| Toledo, OH | $93,560 |
| New Haven, CT | $93,290 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $91,340 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $86,150 |
| Columbus, OH | $83,790 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,600 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $82,140 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $117,590 |
| California | $96,850 |
| Connecticut | $84,920 |
| Montana | $78,610 |
| Maryland | $78,220 |
| New York | $78,170 |
| Oregon | $78,100 |
| Colorado | $77,800 |
| Washington | $77,650 |
| Nevada | $76,540 |
| Massachusetts | $75,210 |
| Kansas | $75,150 |
| North Dakota | $74,470 |
| Ohio | $73,310 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 |
| Michigan | $69,040 |
| Minnesota | $68,790 |
| Maine | $68,710 |
| Vermont | $67,750 |
| Indiana | $65,770 |
| Oklahoma | $64,990 |
| Missouri | $64,700 |
| Utah | $64,430 |
| Iowa | $63,650 |
| Nebraska | $63,390 |
| Virginia | $62,860 |
| Wisconsin | $61,920 |
| New Mexico | $61,890 |
| Florida | $61,070 |
| Wyoming | $60,670 |
| Arizona | $60,620 |
| Idaho | $60,470 |
| West Virginia | $59,930 |
| Alabama | $59,560 |
| Georgia | $58,500 |
| Kentucky | $58,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,820 |
| Texas | $55,830 |
| Mississippi | $54,720 |
| New Jersey | $54,230 |
| North Carolina | $50,460 |
| South Carolina | $49,960 |
| South Dakota | $49,280 |
| Arkansas | $46,210 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Forensic Science Technicians broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $123,840 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $123,840 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $100,200 |
| Hospitals | $95,190 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $71,180 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $70,740 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $68,640 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $68,640 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $68,520 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $67,440 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $67,440 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $65,890 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $65,890 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $64,700 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $62,860 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $60,150 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $57,950 |
| Engineering Services | $57,950 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $51,080 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $50,540 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $50,020 |
| Educational Services | $49,980 |
| Educational Services | $32,120 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $67,440 |
| 2023 | $64,940 |
| 2022 | $63,740 |
| 2021 | $61,930 |
| 2020 | $60,590 |
| 2019 | $59,150 |
| 2018 | $58,230 |
| 2017 | $57,850 |
| 2016 | $56,750 |
| 2015 | $56,320 |
| 2014 | $55,360 |