How much does a forensic science technician make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $34.64 an hour or $6,005 a month.
- Hourly
- $34.64
- Average (mean)
- $79,200
- Jobs
- 19,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,250 | $23.20 | |
| 25th | $57,830 | $27.80 | |
| Median | $72,060 | $34.64 | |
| 75th | $94,520 | $45.44 | |
| 90th | $117,300 | $56.37 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Illinois | $124,800 |
| 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 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $137,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $112,800 |
| San Francisco, CA | $109,900 |
| Akron, OH | $106,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $105,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $104,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $101,800 |
| New Haven, CT | $98,250 |
| Seattle, WA | $95,460 |
| Toledo, OH | $95,330 |
| Lansing, MI | $88,670 |
| Portland, OR | $87,460 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $87,280 |
| Denver, CO | $87,170 |
In other countries
Forensic Science Technician belongs to the international group "Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Agricultural Technician$49,630
- Food Science Technician$52,130
- Biological Technician$57,510
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Environmental Science and Protection Technician$55,090
- Geological Technician$53,350
- Hydrologic Technician$64,790
- Nuclear Technician$110,200
- Social Science Research Assistant$61,990
- Forest and Conservation Technician$54,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forensic science technician make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $34.64 ($72,060 a year).
How much does a forensic science technician make a month?
About $6,005 a month before tax, based on a median of $72,060 a year.
How much does a forensic science technician make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,250 or less a year ($23.20 an hour); the top 10% make $117,300 or more.
Which state pays forensic science technicians the most?
Illinois, with a median of $124,800 a year, followed by California ($102,100) and Connecticut ($85,910).
Which city pays forensic science technicians the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $137,300 a year.
How many forensic science technicians are there in the United States?
About 19,120 people work as forensic science technicians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.