Forensic Science Technicians Salary in the United States

How much does a Forensic Science Technicians make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forensic Science Technicians in the United States is $42,377 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $50,734
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,770 to $46,752
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,575
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View as table View as graph 25% $37,770 10% $33,575 90% $50,734 75% $46,752 $42,377 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Forensic Science Technicians Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $46,752 $3,896 $899 $22
Average $42,377 $3,531 $815 $20
25th Percentile $37,770 $3,147 $726 $18
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Key Factors That Influence Forensic Science Technicians Salaries

A Forensic Science Technicians'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Forensic Science Technicians Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Forensic Science Technicians's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $43,017
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $43,337
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $44,173
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,731
  • Expert (over 8 years): $44,870
Levels Salary
Entry Level Forensic Science Technicians$43,017
Intermediate Level Forensic Science Technicians$43,337
Senior Level Forensic Science Technicians$44,173
Specialist Level Forensic Science Technicians$44,731
Expert Level Forensic Science Technicians$44,870
$43,017 0 yr
$43,337 < 2 yrs
$44,173 2-4 yrs
$44,731 5-8 yrs
$44,870 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Forensic Science Technicians

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: $53,451
  • San Francisco: $52,925
  • Oakland: $51,751

What Skills Can Increase a Forensic Science Technicians's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Estate Planning (Mentioned in 1.92% Job Postings): Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging, during a person's life, for the management and disposal of that person's estate during the person's life and at and after death, while minimizing gift, estate, generation skipping transfer, and income tax. Estate planning includes planning for incapacity as well as a process of reducing or eliminating uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximizing the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. The ultimate goal of estate planning can be determined by the specific goals of the client, and may be as simple or complex as the client's needs dictate. Guardians are often designated for minor children and beneficiaries in incapacity. The law of estate planning overlaps to some degree with elder law, which additionally includes other provisions such as long-term care.
  • Due Diligence (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): Due diligence is the investigation or exercise of care that a reasonable business or person is expected to take before entering into an agreement or contract with another party, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations. A common example of due diligence in various industries is the process through which a potential acquirer evaluates a target company or its assets for an acquisition. The theory behind due diligence holds that performing this type of investigation contributes significantly to informed decision making by enhancing the amount and quality of information available to decision makers and by ensuring that this information is systematically used to deliberate in a reflexive manner on the decision at hand and all its costs, benefits, and risks.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 3.34%
Estate Planning 1.92%
Due Diligence 1.3%
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 Science Technicians's salary.
  • Corporate Governance: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Legal Research: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Corporate Governance
$52,972
25%
Due Diligence
$49,582
17%
Legal Research
$47,886
13%
Litigation Support
$47,463
12%
Contract Management
$47,039
11%
Analysis
$47,039
11%
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How Education impacts a Forensic Science Technicians's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Forensic Science Technicians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Forensic Science Technicians with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $41,715 and $44,481).

Forensic Science Technicians Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Forensic Science Technicians
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.7%
High School 29.3%
Associates 19.5%
Bachelors 35.6%
Masters 3.4%
Doctorate 10.3%
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Forensic Science Technicians Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Forensic Science Technicians'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Forensic Science Technicians

Salaries for a Forensic Science Technicians can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,927 in 2023 to around $43,275 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Forensic Science Technicians salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Forensic Science Technicians Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,927
2024
$43,688
2025
$43,275
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,927
2024 $43,688
2025 $43,275
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Forensic Science Technicians

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Forensic Science Technicians

Here are companies hiring for Forensic Science Technicians and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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