How much does a forensic technician make?
a year · about $35 an hour
A typical forensic technician in the United States makes $72,060 a year, about $35 an hour, about 1.4× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Scene technicians photograph clues, record their locations, and carefully package them. Lab technicians test samples such as hair, fibers, or DNA, write reports, and may explain results in court.
Did you know? A stain that looks like blood might just be dried soda or paint. Investigators test it because a quick scene test alone cannot prove it is blood.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $48,250 and $117,250How do you become one?
Most U.S. jobs require a bachelor’s in biology, chemistry, or forensic science; some scene jobs require police academy training. New hires train on the job and may need a skills test; certification is usually optional.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay differs by state and employer; experience, a specialty, or a useful certificate can help qualify someone for advanced work. Crime-scene staff may work nights or overtime, which can change total pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($102,100), lowest in North Carolina ($59,240).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,250 | $72,060 | $117,250 | about 19,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $102,100 | about 3,000 |
| Colorado | $84,010 | about 510 |
| New York | $81,670 | about 1,000 |
| Virginia | $68,900 | about 770 |
| Florida | $64,140 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.ht
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-4092.00
- www.fbi.gov/news/podcasts/inside-the-fbi-podcast-forensic-fact-vs-fiction
- www.theiai.org/crime_scene.php
- www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cowashingtonor/jobs/newprint/3255360
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY