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

A Forensics Investigator's salary grows with experience: a Forensics Investigator (0-0 years)earns $75,642, a Police Sergeant (0-5 years)earns $83,193, a Police Lieutenant (5+ years)earns $106,782, a Sheriff/Police Chief (5-10 years)earns $130,003,

What are the highest paying states for a Forensics Investigator?

Forensics Investigator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Forensics Investigator roles are District of Columbia $86,494, California $86,166, Massachusetts $85,018. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Forensics Investigator roles make?

Salaries for Forensics Investigator level roles vary by specialization: Computer Forensics Analyst IV: $174,748; Computer Forensics Analyst III: $144,555; Computer Forensics Analyst II: $124,935; Computer Forensics Analyst I: $102,403; Investigator: $76,092.

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

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Forensics 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.

Forensics Investigator Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forensics Investigator in the United States is $78,120 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,844
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,082 to $90,014
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,763

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Forensics Investigator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$90,014	$7,501	$1,731	$43
Average	$78,120	$6,510	$1,502	$38
25th Percentile	$70,082	$5,840	$1,348	$34

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Key Factors That Influence Forensics Investigator Salaries

A Forensics 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 Forensics 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 Forensics Investigators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $86,494.
California: $86,166.
Massachusetts: $85,018.

District of Columbia $86,494 California $86,166 Massachusetts $85,018 Washington $84,705 New Jersey $84,674 Alaska $84,565 Connecticut $83,487 New York $83,049

Hawaii $81,651 Rhode Island $80,995 Maryland $80,549 Minnesota $79,940 Colorado $79,706 Illinois $79,628 Oregon $79,331 Delaware $79,112

New Hampshire $78,975 Virginia $78,667 Pennsylvania $77,768 Nevada $77,315 North Dakota $77,167 Michigan $76,932 Wisconsin $76,847 Vermont $76,675

Texas $76,198 Maine $76,167 Arizona $76,120 Ohio $76,065 Georgia $75,347 Indiana $74,987 Wyoming $74,917 Utah $74,808

Iowa $74,761 Kansas $74,386 Louisiana $74,276 North Carolina $74,237 Missouri $74,222 Florida $73,917 Montana $73,753 Nebraska $73,597

Kentucky $73,511 South Carolina $73,198 Tennessee $73,003 Idaho $72,925 New Mexico $72,355 Oklahoma $72,230 Alabama $71,769 South Dakota $70,995

Arkansas $70,574 West Virginia $70,347 Mississippi $69,667

Top Paying Cities for Forensics 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: $98,533
San Francisco: $97,564
Oakland: $95,400

San Jose, CA $98,533

San Francisco, CA $97,564

Oakland, CA $95,400

New York, NY $90,533

Queens Village, NY $89,947

Paramus, NJ $89,322

Passaic, NJ $89,244

Bergenfield, NJ $89,166

Stamford, CT $89,049

Huntington, NY $88,971

Newark, NJ $88,463

Bridgeport, CT $88,307

New Brunswick, NJ $88,049

Vallejo, CA $87,885

Middlesex, NJ $87,838

Somerset, NJ $87,768

Petaluma, CA $87,588

Santa Cruz, CA $87,283

Boston, MA $87,127

Monterey, CA $86,737

Fairbanks, AK $86,682

Los Angeles, CA $86,533

Washington, DC $86,494

Seattle, WA $86,354

Santa Rosa, CA $86,338

Juneau, AK $86,112

Orange, CA $85,854

Anchorage, AK $85,713

Anaheim, CA $85,658

Santa Ana, CA $85,541

Nassau, NY $85,494

Long Beach, CA $85,463

Danbury, CT $85,440

Santa Maria, CA $85,174

Everett, WA $85,159

Bremerton, WA $84,776

Trenton, NJ $84,627

Sacramento, CA $84,596

San Diego, CA $84,557

Brockton, MA $84,526

Tacoma, WA $84,494

Santa Barbara, CA $84,385

Lowell, MA $84,073

New Suffolk, NY $84,041

Nashua, NH $83,948

Lompoc, CA $83,823

Ventura, CA $83,745

Stockton, CA $83,721

New Haven, CT $83,565

Atlantic City, NJ $83,362

Hartford, CT $83,190

Modesto, CA $83,151

Poughkeepsie, NY $82,979

New Britain, CT $82,940

Olympia, WA $82,831

Kennewick, WA $82,831

New London, CT $82,815

Norwich, CT $82,791

Lawrence, MA $82,752

Bakersfield, CA $82,534

Riverside, CA $82,424

New Bedford, MA $82,424

Richland, WA $82,346

Portsmouth, NH $82,284

Vineland, NJ $82,268

San Bernardino, CA $82,206

Boulder, CO $81,987

Worcester, MA $81,924

Portland, OR $81,854

Saint Paul, MN $81,760

Minneapolis, MN $81,760

Philadelphia, PA $81,651

Honolulu, HI $81,237

Springfield, MA $80,963

Providence, RI $80,956

Chicago, IL $80,729

Bellingham, WA $80,635

Baltimore, MD $80,549

Chico, CA $80,354

Wilmington, DE $80,221

Pittsfield, MA $80,143

Manchester, NH $79,995

Spokane, WA $79,651

Denver, CO $79,643

Albany, NY $79,276

Troy, NY $79,245

Schenectady, NY $79,081

Burlington, VT $78,909

Portland, ME $78,635

Salem, OR $78,573

Yakima, WA $78,557

Ann Arbor, MI $78,534

Rochester, MN $78,315

Fresno, CA $78,276

Reno, NV $78,276

Milwaukee, WI $78,206

Detroit, MI $78,128

Allentown, PA $78,104

Carson City, NV $78,096

Houston, TX $77,979

Colorado Springs, CO $77,971

Syracuse, NY $77,932

Eugene, OR $77,784

Bismarck, ND $77,690

Gary, IN $77,690

Galveston, TX $77,690

Springfield, OR $77,628

Medford, OR $77,440

Fort Collins, CO $77,409

Austin, TX $77,347

Mesa, AZ $77,182

Phoenix, AZ $77,167

Dallas, TX $77,143

Reading, PA $77,097

Saint Cloud, MN $77,065

Concord, NH $76,995

Madison, WI $76,964

Utica, NY $76,753

Raleigh, NC $76,690

Las Vegas, NV $76,682

Rochester, NY $76,628

Des Moines, IA $76,620

Atlanta, GA $76,495

Battle Creek, MI $76,472

Salt Lake City, UT $76,448

Lancaster, PA $76,331

Champaign, IL $76,315

Harrisburg, PA $76,222

Durham, NC $76,151

Kansas City, MO $76,143

Kansas City, KS $76,128

Fort Worth, TX $76,120

Boca Raton, FL $76,089

Cleveland, OH $76,081

Columbus, OH $76,065

Pittsburgh, PA $76,058

Richmond, VA $76,026

Indianapolis, IN $76,011

Cincinnati, OH $75,909

Petersburg, VA $75,792

Billings, MT $75,620

Lansing, MI $75,620

Huntsville, AL $75,620

Lebanon, PA $75,612

Dayton, OH $75,604

Pueblo, CO $75,604

Appleton, WI $75,581

Buffalo, NY $75,550

Racine, WI $75,511

Charlotte, NC $75,503

Saint Louis, MO $75,479

Springfield, IL $75,448

Elkhart, IN $75,433

York, PA $75,433

Gastonia, NC $75,425

Benton Harbor, MI $75,425

Beaumont, TX $75,378

Lorain, OH $75,362

Toledo, OH $75,331

Binghamton, NY $75,292

Rock Hill, SC $75,284

Rockford, IL $75,245

Fargo, ND $75,206

Elyria, OH $75,206

Flagstaff, AZ $75,151

Fort Lauderdale, FL $75,104

Miami, FL $75,058

Duluth, MN $74,933

Bangor, ME $74,831

Cedar Rapids, IA $74,745

Louisville, KY $74,706

Grand Rapids, MI $74,690

Hialeah, FL $74,683

Casper, WY $74,573

Scranton, PA $74,480

New Orleans, LA $74,456

Virginia Beach, VA $74,448

Akron, OH $74,409

Peoria, IL $74,308

Sarasota, FL $74,292

Green Bay, WI $74,237

Baton Rouge, LA $74,198

Charleston, SC $74,183

Nashville, TN $74,159

Jamestown, NY $74,144

Davenport, IA $74,144

Tucson, AZ $74,105

Cheyenne, WY $74,081

Saint Petersburg, FL $74,058

Tampa, FL $74,042

Omaha, NE $74,026

Port Arthur, TX $73,995

Evansville, IN $73,995

Bradenton, FL $73,964

Santa Fe, NM $73,823

Orlando, FL $73,745

Clearwater, FL $73,659

Canton, OH $73,495

La Crosse, WI $73,495

Grand Forks, ND $73,472

Albuquerque, NM $73,448

Tulsa, OK $73,448

Newport News, VA $73,441

High Point, NC $73,417

Ogden, UT $73,386

Corpus Christi, TX $73,323

Laramie, WY $73,276

Norfolk, VA $73,276

Rock Island, IL $73,230

Saginaw, MI $73,214

Jacksonville, FL $73,206

Salisbury, NC $73,191

Memphis, TN $73,175

Moline, IL $73,136

Fort Myers, FL $73,112

Waterloo, IA $73,011

Spartanburg, SC $72,933

Lincoln, NE $72,894

Fort Wayne, IN $72,878

Birmingham, AL $72,792

Cedar Falls, IA $72,776

Provo, UT $72,769

Springfield, OH $72,761

San Antonio, TX $72,745

Greensboro, NC $72,714

South Bend, IN $72,706

Winston Salem, NC $72,698

Boise, ID $72,675

Savannah, GA $72,620

Muskegon, MI $72,480

Lima, OH $72,386

Lake Charles, LA $72,355

Anderson, IN $72,339

Lexington, KY $72,316

Augusta, GA $72,292

Greenville, SC $72,292

Wichita, KS $72,222

Tuscaloosa, AL $72,222

Columbia, SC $72,152

Bloomington, IN $71,956

Roanoke, VA $71,909

Asheville, NC $71,808

Knoxville, TN $71,675

Shreveport, LA $71,667

Wilmington, NC $71,566

Frankfort, KY $71,417

Oklahoma City, OK $71,363

Chillicothe, OH $71,331

Longview, TX $71,323

Topeka, KS $71,300

Mobile, AL $71,183

Terre Haute, IN $71,152

Erie, PA $71,144

Altoona, PA $71,105

Melbourne, FL $71,081

Amarillo, TX $71,050

Killeen, TX $71,027

Fayetteville, AR $70,964

Sioux Falls, SD $70,909

Chattanooga, TN $70,863

Idaho Falls, ID $70,855

Gainesville, FL $70,691

Portsmouth, OH $70,652

Little Rock, AR $70,636

Lynchburg, VA $70,636

Lafayette, LA $70,605

Youngstown, OH $70,605

Temple, TX $70,574

Daytona Beach, FL $70,558

Clarksville, TN $70,550

Pensacola, FL $70,542

Hopkinsville, KY $70,308

Charleston, WV $70,300

Florence, SC $70,261

Sioux City, IA $70,214

Macon, GA $69,988

Tallahassee, FL $69,980

Fayetteville, NC $69,964

Waco, TX $69,949

Wichita Falls, TX $69,949

Pine Bluff, AR $69,917

Vincennes, IN $69,769

Lubbock, TX $69,738

Great Falls, MT $69,691

Alamogordo, NM $69,683

Abilene, TX $69,620

Rapid City, SD $69,519

Monroe, LA $69,519

Albany, GA $69,472

Huntington, WV $69,464

Jackson, MS $69,456

Greenville, MS $69,449

Parkersburg, WV $69,370

Montgomery, AL $69,355

Johnstown, PA $69,339

Springfield, MO $69,277

Biloxi, MS $69,238

Sumter, SC $69,074

Columbus, GA $69,066

Twin Falls, ID $69,019

Pascagoula, MS $68,917

Kingsport, TN $68,714

Gulfport, MS $68,691

Alexandria, LA $68,433

Fort Smith, AR $68,238

El Paso, TX $68,027

Helena, MT $67,925

Las Cruces, NM $67,675

Harlingen, TX $67,457

Pocatello, ID $67,386

Florence, AL $67,363

Brownsville, TX $67,347

Dothan, AL $67,222

Mcallen, TX $67,183

Columbus, MS $66,605

Altus, OK $66,246

Lawton, OK $66,097

Pierre, SD $65,816

What Skills Can Increase a Forensics 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 Forensics 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	$86,713	11%
Prioritization	$83,588	7%
Consulting	$82,807	6%
Cost Control	$82,807	6%
AML	$82,026	5%
Analysis	$81,245	4%

Get Latest Data

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

Understanding how a Forensics 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 April 01, 2026

$70,082

Average $78,120/year

$90,014

$5,840

Average $6,510/month

$7,501

$1,348

Average $1,502/week

$1,731

$34

Average $38/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$90,014	$7,501	$1,731	$43
Average	$78,120	$6,510	$1,502	$38
25th Percentile	$70,082	$5,840	$1,348	$34

Salaries of jobs related to Forensics Investigator

Salary Trends for Forensics Investigator

Salaries for a Forensics Investigator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $88,825 in 2023 to around $87,804 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Forensics Investigator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Forensics Investigator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$88,825

2024

$88,695

2025

$87,804

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$88,825
2024	$88,695
2025	$87,804
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Forensics Investigator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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