Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forensic Lab Technician in South Dakota is $35,525 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.
However, a Forensic Lab Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
Forensic Lab Technician Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $38,149 | $3,179 | $734 | $18 |
| Average | $35,525 | $2,960 | $683 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,012 | $2,751 | $635 | $16 |
Red Rock Dairy - Beresford, SD
Meyer & Dana Orthodontics - Rapid City, SD
Monument Health - Rapid City, SD
Southeast Tech - Sioux Falls, SD
A Forensic Lab Technician'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Forensic Lab Technician'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Forensic ... Level Forensic Lab Technician | $35,699 |
| Patient A... Level Forensic Lab Technician | $61,302 |
| Patient A... Level Forensic Lab Technician | $91,230 |
| Patient A... Level Forensic Lab Technician | $117,119 |
| Patient A... Level Forensic Lab Technician | $156,573 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Lab Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Forensic Lab Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Forensic Lab Technician positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Forensic Lab Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $42,630 | $20.0 | 20% |
Understanding how a Forensic Lab Technician'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $38,149 | $3,179 | $734 | $18 |
| Average | $35,525 | $2,960 | $683 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,012 | $2,751 | $635 | $16 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Forensic Lab Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Eyemart Express
Sioux Falls, SD
Eyemart Express | Sioux Falls, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Optical Lab Technician Part-Time. 30 years ago, Dr. Barnes founded Eyemart Express to deliver everything a patient needs.... more
9 Days Ago
Kurz Solutions
Pine Ridge, SD
Kurz Solutions | Pine Ridge, SD
Pine Ridge, South Dakota. The mystical Badlands of South Dakota About the Community Pine Ridge, South Dakota The Oglala Lakota tribe, part of the Greater S... more
7 Days Ago
Sanford Health
Sioux Falls, SD
Sanford Health | Sioux Falls, SD
Careers With Purpose. Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and pro... more
7 Days Ago
University of Kansas Health System
KANSAS CITY, KS
University of Kansas Health System | KANSAS CITY, KS
Position Title Medical Lab Scientist - Core Lab Nights Bell Hospital Position Summary / Career Interest: The Medical Lab Scientist provides comprehensive l... more
5 Days Ago
Christus Health
SAN ANTONIO, TX
Christus Health | SAN ANTONIO, TX
Description. Summary. The competent Nurse, in the same or similar clinical setting, practices independently and demonstrates an awareness of all relevant a... more
7 Days Ago
Intermountain Health
BRIGHTON, CO
Intermountain Health | BRIGHTON, CO
Job Description: The Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional caregiver who assumes responsibility and accountability for assessing, planning, implementing,... more
5 Days Ago
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.
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.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
