Forensic Science Technicians Salary
The median forensic science technicians salary in the United States is $72,060 per year ($34.65/hour). Salaries range from $48,250 at the entry level to $117,250+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 19,120 forensic science technicians jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 12.8% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$72,060
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.65
per hour
Employment
19,120
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$48,250
25th percentile
$57,830
Median
$72,060
75th percentile
$94,520
90th percentile
$117,250
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+12.8%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
2,900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Forensic Science Technicians Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$45K$125K■ No data
Top Paying States
Illinois
$125K
+73%
California
$102K
+42%
Connecticut
$86K
+19%
Colorado
$84K
+17%
Montana
$82K
+14%
Maryland
$82K
+14%
New York
$82K
+13%
Washington
$81K
+13%
Nevada
$81K
+13%
Oregon
$81K
+12%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $124,790 | +73.2% |
| California | $102,100 | +41.7% |
| Connecticut | $85,910 | +19.2% |
| Colorado | $84,010 | +16.6% |
| Montana | $82,200 | +14.1% |
| Maryland | $82,140 | +14.0% |
| New York | $81,670 | +13.3% |
| Washington | $81,310 | +12.8% |
| Nevada | $81,090 | +12.5% |
| Oregon | $80,950 | +12.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 41
Forensic Science Technicians Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,280 | +90.5% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $112,790 | +56.5% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,930 | +52.6% |
| Akron, OH | $106,330 | +47.6% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,320 | +46.2% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,410 | +44.9% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,810 | +42.7% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $101,780 | +41.2% |
| New Haven, CT | $98,250 | +36.3% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,460 | +32.5% |
Showing 1–10 of 92
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A forensic science technicians earning $72,060/year would need 827 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 888 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how forensic science technicians salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Forensic Science Technicians salary trend (2011–2024) →