Forensic Science Technicians: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Forensic Science Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by forensic science technicians include:
- 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.
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
- Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
- Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
What Forensic Science Technicians Need to Know
Successful forensic science technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Ballistician
- Ballistics Technician (Ballistics Tech)
- Biometric Fingerprint Technician (Biometric Fingerprint Tech)
- Biometric Fingerprinting Technician (Biometric Fingerprinting Tech)
- Biometrician
- Blood Splatter Analyst
- CSI (Crime Scene Investigator)
- Computer Forensics Technician (Computer Forensics Tech)
How Many Forensic Science Technicians Are There?
The U.S. employs around 30,311 forensic science technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +9.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Forensic Science Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $85,117 |
| Hourly median | $40.92 |
| 10th percentile | $58,796 |
| 25th percentile | $71,956 |
| 75th percentile | $98,278 |
| 90th percentile | $111,438 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Forensic Science Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Where Forensic Science Technicians Earn the Most
Pay for forensic science technicians vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $92,908 | 20.4% | 1.31 |
| Great Lakes | $77,285 | 11.2% | 0.85 |
| New England | $76,868 | 2.4% | 0.59 |
| Middle Atlantic | $73,154 | 10.6% | 0.89 |
| Rocky Mountains | $70,667 | 4.8% | 1.22 |
| Plains States | $67,007 | 4.7% | 0.78 |
| Southwest | $57,853 | 16.7% | 1.46 |
| Southeast | $57,110 | 29.1% | 1.41 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Forensic Science Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $131,390 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $103,930 | 410 |
| Akron, OH | OH | $102,230 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $100,800 | 230 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $99,670 | 270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $98,110 | 1,210 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $97,040 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $96,770 | 150 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of forensic science technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,260 | $67,440 |
| Educational Services | 380 | $49,980 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 340 | $51,080 |
| Finance and Insurance | 80 | n/a |
Forensic Science Technicians work in the following industries:
Software Forensic Science Technicians Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: Guidance Software EnCase Enterprise (in demand)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of forensic science technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level forensic science technicians positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Coroners (Primary-Short)
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Penetration Testers (Supplemental)
- Digital Forensics Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Data Scientists (Supplemental)
- Microbiologists (Supplemental)
- Biological Technicians (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring forensic science technicians typically earn programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
3 programs across 2 majors
Physical Sciences
2 programs across 1 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Social Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians).
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