What are the main factors that influence a Forensic Investigator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Forensic Investigator's salary?

A Forensic Investigator's salary grows with experience: a Forensic Investigator (0-0 years)earns $74,258, a Police Sergeant (0-5 years)earns $81,655, a Police Lieutenant (5+ years)earns $104,789, a Sheriff/Police Chief (5-10 years)earns $127,612,

What are the highest paying states for a Forensic Investigator?

Forensic Investigator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Forensic Investigator roles are District of Columbia $80,378, California $80,073, Massachusetts $79,005. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Forensic Investigator roles make?

Salaries for Forensic Investigator level roles vary by specialization: Forensic Nurse - RN: $101,161; Investigator: $76,125; Forensic Interviewer: $75,176; Digital Forensic Investigator: $71,213; Forensic Investigator Assistant: $67,607.

How do different companies affect a Forensic Investigator's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Forensic Investigator roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Forensic Investigator Salary in the United States

How much does a Forensic Investigator make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forensic Investigator in the United States is $72,595 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Forensic Investigator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,022
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,612 to $82,241
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,344

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered Talent

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Forensic Investigator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$82,241	$6,853	$1,582	$40
Average	$72,595	$6,050	$1,396	$35
25th Percentile	$64,612	$5,384	$1,243	$31

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Forensic Investigator Job Openings in the United States

Physician Emergency Medicine Ohio Permanent Emergency Medicine Physician near Columbus Ohio Job

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Physician Other Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Instacart

Instacart - Columbus, OH

Physician Psychiatry

Continuum Medical Staffing - Columbus, OH

Search More Forensic Investigator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Forensic Investigator Salaries

A Forensic Investigator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Forensic Investigator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Forensic Investigators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $80,378.
California: $80,073.
Massachusetts: $79,005.

District of Columbia $80,378 California $80,073 Massachusetts $79,005 Washington $78,715 New Jersey $78,686 Alaska $78,584 Connecticut $77,583 New York $77,176

Hawaii $75,877 Rhode Island $75,267 Maryland $74,853 Minnesota $74,287 Colorado $74,069 Illinois $73,996 Oregon $73,721 Delaware $73,517

New Hampshire $73,389 Virginia $73,103 Pennsylvania $72,269 Nevada $71,848 North Dakota $71,710 Michigan $71,492 Wisconsin $71,412 Vermont $71,252

Texas $70,809 Maine $70,780 Arizona $70,737 Ohio $70,686 Georgia $70,018 Indiana $69,684 Wyoming $69,619 Utah $69,517

Iowa $69,474 Kansas $69,125 Louisiana $69,024 North Carolina $68,987 Missouri $68,973 Florida $68,690 Montana $68,537 Nebraska $68,392

Kentucky $68,312 South Carolina $68,022 Tennessee $67,840 Idaho $67,768 New Mexico $67,238 Oklahoma $67,122 Alabama $66,693 South Dakota $65,975

Arkansas $65,583 West Virginia $65,372 Mississippi $64,740

Top Paying Cities for Forensic Investigators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $91,564
San Francisco: $90,562
Oakland: $88,653

San Jose, CA $91,564

San Francisco, CA $90,562

Oakland, CA $88,653

New York, NY $83,586

Paramus, NJ $82,569

Queens Village, NY $82,566

Passaic, NJ $82,497

Bergenfield, NJ $82,490

Stamford, CT $82,330

Huntington, NY $82,301

Newark, NJ $81,764

Bridgeport, CT $81,611

Vallejo, CA $81,466

New Brunswick, NJ $81,437

Petaluma, CA $81,394

Middlesex, NJ $81,256

Somerset, NJ $81,205

Santa Cruz, CA $81,111

Boston, MA $80,668

Monterey, CA $80,413

Seattle, WA $80,247

Santa Rosa, CA $80,232

Los Angeles, CA $80,211

Juneau, AK $80,022

Washington, DC $79,942

Orange, CA $79,684

Santa Ana, CA $79,492

Long Beach, CA $79,419

Anaheim, CA $79,405

Anchorage, AK $79,368

Santa Maria, CA $79,151

Everett, WA $79,136

Danbury, CT $78,881

Bremerton, WA $78,780

Tacoma, WA $78,519

New Suffolk, NY $78,518

Sacramento, CA $78,497

Santa Barbara, CA $78,417

Trenton, NJ $78,338

San Diego, CA $78,338

Brockton, MA $78,258

Fairbanks, AK $78,080

Lompoc, CA $77,895

Lowell, MA $77,836

Ventura, CA $77,822

Nashua, NH $77,808

Stockton, CA $77,800

Modesto, CA $77,270

Poughkeepsie, NY $77,111

Olympia, WA $76,973

Kennewick, WA $76,973

New Haven, CT $76,944

Lawrence, MA $76,682

Hartford, CT $76,610

Riverside, CA $76,595

New Bedford, MA $76,523

Richland, WA $76,523

Bakersfield, CA $76,421

San Bernardino, CA $76,392

New Britain, CT $76,385

Atlantic City, NJ $76,385

New London, CT $76,356

Norwich, CT $76,334

Portsmouth, NH $76,319

Boulder, CO $76,166

Portland, OR $76,065

Worcester, MA $76,058

Minneapolis, MN $75,833

Philadelphia, PA $75,731

Honolulu, HI $75,492

Saint Paul, MN $75,457

Vineland, NJ $75,441

Providence, RI $75,231

Chicago, IL $75,020

Bellingham, WA $74,933

Springfield, MA $74,875

Baltimore, MD $74,853

Chico, CA $74,672

Pittsfield, MA $74,476

Manchester, NH $74,338

Spokane, WA $74,018

Denver, CO $74,011

Albany, NY $73,670

Troy, NY $73,641

Nassau, NY $73,563

Schenectady, NY $73,488

Wilmington, DE $73,430

Burlington, VT $73,329

Salem, OR $73,299

Portland, ME $73,074

Yakima, WA $73,002

Rochester, MN $72,777

Reno, NV $72,740

Fresno, CA $72,740

Milwaukee, WI $72,675

Detroit, MI $72,603

Ann Arbor, MI $72,590

Allentown, PA $72,581

Colorado Springs, CO $72,457

Syracuse, NY $72,421

Carson City, NV $72,421

Houston, TX $72,319

Eugene, OR $72,283

Gary, IN $72,196

Springfield, OR $72,138

Bismarck, ND $72,123

Galveston, TX $72,073

Medford, OR $71,964

Fort Collins, CO $71,935

Concord, NH $71,898

Austin, TX $71,877

Mesa, AZ $71,724

Reading, PA $71,717

Phoenix, AZ $71,710

Dallas, TX $71,688

Saint Cloud, MN $71,618

Madison, WI $71,521

Utica, NY $71,325

Rochester, NY $71,209

Des Moines, IA $71,201

Raleigh, NC $71,194

Atlanta, GA $71,085

Battle Creek, MI $71,064

Salt Lake City, UT $71,042

Lancaster, PA $70,933

Harrisburg, PA $70,831

Kansas City, MO $70,759

Champaign, IL $70,744

Kansas City, KS $70,744

Fort Worth, TX $70,737

Columbus, OH $70,725

Boca Raton, FL $70,708

Pittsburgh, PA $70,679

Richmond, VA $70,650

Indianapolis, IN $70,635

Cleveland, OH $70,628

Las Vegas, NV $70,541

Cincinnati, OH $70,541

Petersburg, VA $70,432

Huntsville, AL $70,323

Lansing, MI $70,274

Lebanon, PA $70,265

Pueblo, CO $70,258

Appleton, WI $70,236

Buffalo, NY $70,207

Dayton, OH $70,185

Racine, WI $70,171

Charlotte, NC $70,163

Saint Louis, MO $70,142

York, PA $70,098

Elkhart, IN $70,098

Gastonia, NC $70,084

Billings, MT $70,067

Beaumont, TX $70,047

Lorain, OH $70,033

Benton Harbor, MI $70,018

Toledo, OH $70,004

Binghamton, NY $69,967

Rock Hill, SC $69,960

Rockford, IL $69,924

Springfield, IL $69,895

Elyria, OH $69,887

Fargo, ND $69,887

Flagstaff, AZ $69,837

Fort Lauderdale, FL $69,793

Duluth, MN $69,750

Miami, FL $69,750

Cheyenne, WY $69,699

Grand Forks, ND $69,699

Bangor, ME $69,539

Cedar Rapids, IA $69,459

Durham, NC $69,429

Louisville, KY $69,423

Grand Rapids, MI $69,408

Hialeah, FL $69,401

Casper, WY $69,299

Scranton, PA $69,212

New Orleans, LA $69,191

Virginia Beach, VA $69,183

Akron, OH $69,147

Peoria, IL $69,053

Sarasota, FL $69,038

Nashville, TN $68,987

Omaha, NE $68,987

Green Bay, WI $68,987

Baton Rouge, LA $68,951

Charleston, SC $68,936

Jamestown, NY $68,900

Davenport, IA $68,900

Tucson, AZ $68,864

Saint Petersburg, FL $68,820

Tampa, FL $68,806

Evansville, IN $68,762

Port Arthur, TX $68,762

Bradenton, FL $68,733

Santa Fe, NM $68,603

Orlando, FL $68,472

Clearwater, FL $68,450

Canton, OH $68,298

La Crosse, WI $68,298

Albuquerque, NM $68,254

Newport News, VA $68,247

High Point, NC $68,225

Ogden, UT $68,196

Corpus Christi, TX $68,138

Norfolk, VA $68,094

Laramie, WY $68,094

Rock Island, IL $68,051

Saginaw, MI $68,036

Jacksonville, FL $68,029

Salisbury, NC $68,015

Boise, ID $68,000

Moline, IL $67,964

Fort Myers, FL $67,942

Memphis, TN $67,927

Tulsa, OK $67,891

Waterloo, IA $67,848

Spartanburg, SC $67,775

Lincoln, NE $67,739

Fort Wayne, IN $67,724

Provo, UT $67,717

Cedar Falls, IA $67,630

San Antonio, TX $67,601

Greensboro, NC $67,572

South Bend, IN $67,564

Savannah, GA $67,485

Muskegon, MI $67,456

Birmingham, AL $67,448

Winston Salem, NC $67,413

Lake Charles, LA $67,238

Anderson, IN $67,223

Lexington, KY $67,201

Augusta, GA $67,180

Greenville, SC $67,180

Lima, OH $67,122

Wichita, KS $67,114

Tuscaloosa, AL $67,114

Columbia, SC $67,049

Springfield, OH $67,035

Asheville, NC $66,918

Bloomington, IN $66,868

Knoxville, TN $66,606

Shreveport, LA $66,599

Wilmington, NC $66,505

Roanoke, VA $66,505

Topeka, KS $66,374

Frankfort, KY $66,366

Oklahoma City, OK $66,316

Chillicothe, OH $66,287

Longview, TX $66,280

Melbourne, FL $66,272

Sioux Falls, SD $66,156

Mobile, AL $66,149

Terre Haute, IN $66,120

Altoona, PA $66,076

Amarillo, TX $66,025

Killeen, TX $66,004

Fayetteville, AR $65,946

Chattanooga, TN $65,924

Sioux City, IA $65,858

Idaho Falls, ID $65,844

Lynchburg, VA $65,786

Gainesville, FL $65,691

Portsmouth, OH $65,655

Little Rock, AR $65,641

Lafayette, LA $65,612

Youngstown, OH $65,612

Daytona Beach, FL $65,568

Clarksville, TN $65,561

Pensacola, FL $65,554

Temple, TX $65,548

Hopkinsville, KY $65,336

Erie, PA $65,321

Florence, SC $65,292

Charleston, WV $65,176

Great Falls, MT $65,140

Macon, GA $65,038

Tallahassee, FL $65,031

Fayetteville, NC $65,016

Waco, TX $65,002

Helena, MT $64,951

Pine Bluff, AR $64,923

Vincennes, IN $64,835

Lubbock, TX $64,806

Alamogordo, NM $64,762

Twin Falls, ID $64,697

Rapid City, SD $64,675

Jackson, MS $64,544

Huntington, WV $64,539

Greenville, MS $64,537

Parkersburg, WV $64,463

Montgomery, AL $64,450

Wichita Falls, TX $64,378

Springfield, MO $64,378

Biloxi, MS $64,341

Monroe, LA $64,269

Johnstown, PA $64,218

Sumter, SC $64,189

Columbus, GA $64,182

Pascagoula, MS $64,044

Abilene, TX $64,044

Kingsport, TN $63,855

Albany, GA $63,855

Gulfport, MS $63,833

Alexandria, LA $63,593

Fort Smith, AR $63,412

El Paso, TX $63,216

Las Cruces, NM $62,889

Harlingen, TX $62,705

Pocatello, ID $62,693

Florence, AL $62,599

Brownsville, TX $62,584

Mcallen, TX $62,432

Dothan, AL $62,330

Columbus, MS $61,899

Altus, OK $61,561

Lawton, OK $61,423

Pierre, SD $61,162

What Skills Can Increase a Forensic Investigator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 5.02% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Forensics (Mentioned in 2.98% Job Postings): Forensics is a scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime. Use of analytical and scientific techniques to examine evidence from crimes and prepare legal statements that summarize the results for court cases.
Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	5.02%
Forensics	2.98%
Microsoft Office	1.35%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Forensic Investigator's salary.

Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Prioritization: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Due Diligence	$80,581	11%
Prioritization	$77,677	7%
Consulting	$76,951	6%
Cost Control	$76,951	6%
AML	$76,225	5%
Analysis	$75,499	4%

Get Latest Data

Forensic Investigator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Forensic Investigator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

$64,612

Average $72,595/year

$82,241

$5,384

Average $6,050/month

$6,853

$1,243

Average $1,396/week

$1,582

$31

Average $35/hour

$40

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$82,241	$6,853	$1,582	$40
Average	$72,595	$6,050	$1,396	$35
25th Percentile	$64,612	$5,384	$1,243	$31

Salaries of jobs related to Forensic Investigator

Salary Trends for Forensic Investigator

Salaries for a Forensic Investigator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $87,166 in 2023 to around $86,164 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Forensic Investigator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Forensic Investigator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$87,166

2024

$87,039

2025

$86,164

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$87,166
2024	$87,039
2025	$86,164
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Forensic Investigator

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit

the United States

Find Your Next Forensic Investigator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Forensic Investigator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

MD Staff, LLC

Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

3 Days Ago
Confidential

Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Brand&External Communications

Confidential | Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

14 Days Ago
C.R. England

Columbus, OH

Local CDL

C.R. England | Columbus, OH

Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

15 Days Ago
Confidential

Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential | Columbus, OH

Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

15 Days Ago
KreilKamp Trucking

Columbus, OH

Regional Truck Driver Company

KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

15 Days Ago
Maxim Healthcare

Columbus, OH

RN Private Duty Nursing Opportunity

Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

17 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about