Forensic Examiner Salary in the United States

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

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forensic Examiner in the United States is $67,217 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $84,005
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,881 to $76,005
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,202
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View as table View as graph 25% $59,881 10% $53,202 90% $84,005 75% $76,005 $67,217 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Forensic Examiner Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $76,005 $6,334 $1,462 $37
Average $67,217 $5,601 $1,293 $32
25th Percentile $59,881 $4,990 $1,152 $29
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Key Factors That Influence Forensic Examiner Salaries

A Forensic Examiner'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 Examiner Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Forensic Examiner'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): $65,906
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,571
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,230
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,741
  • Expert (over 8 years): $123,721
Levels Salary
Fraud Inv... Level Forensic Examiner$65,906
Forensic ... Level Forensic Examiner$66,571
Fraud Inv... Level Forensic Examiner$86,230
Fraud Inv... Level Forensic Examiner$113,741
Fraud Inv... Level Forensic Examiner$123,721
$65,906 0 yr
$66,571 < 2 yrs
$86,230 2-4 yrs
$113,741 5-8 yrs
$123,721 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Forensic Examiners

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: $84,781
  • San Francisco: $83,853
  • Oakland: $82,085

What Skills Can Increase a Forensic Examiner's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.11% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Building Codes (Mentioned in 2.8% Job Postings): A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permission, usually from a local council. The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate governmental or private authority. Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior designers, constructors and regulators but are also used for various purposes by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate developers, subcontractors, manufacturers of building products and materials, insurance companies, facility managers, tenants, and others. Codes regulate the design and construction of structures where adopted into law.
  • Digital Video (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Digital video is an electronic representation of moving visual images in the form of encoded digital data. This is in contrast to analog video, which represents moving visual images in the form of analog signals.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.11%
Building Codes 2.8%
Digital Video 1.47%
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 Examiner's salary.
  • Forensics: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Forensics
$75,955
13%
Leadership
$73,939
10%
Commitment
$73,939
10%
Flexibility
$71,922
7%
Initiative
$70,578
5%
Data Analysis
$70,578
5%
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How Education impacts a Forensic Examiner's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Forensic Examiners enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Examiner with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,102 and $69,286).

Forensic Examiner Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Forensic Examiner
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 17.0%
Associates 12.3%
Bachelors 46.2%
Masters 18.9%
Doctorate 4.7%
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Forensic Examiner Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Forensic Examiner'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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Forensic Examiner

Salaries for a Forensic Examiner can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $83,908 in 2023 to around $81,923 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Forensic Examiner salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Forensic Examiner Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,908
2024
$83,263
2025
$81,923
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,908
2024 $83,263
2025 $81,923
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Forensic Examiner

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

Here are companies hiring for Forensic Examiner 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.)

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

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