Forensic Science Technicians Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for forensic science technicians is $72,060, or $34.65 per hour. About 19,120 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $124,790 in Illinois to $44,670 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 41 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $124,790 | $60.00 | 370 | 0.49 |
| 2 | California | $102,100 | $49.09 | 2,800 | 1.25 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $85,910 | $41.30 | 120 | 0.59 |
| 4 | Colorado | $84,010 | $40.39 | 510 | 1.46 |
| 5 | Montana | $82,200 | $39.52 | 60 | 0.95 |
| 6 | Maryland | $82,140 | $39.49 | 460 | 1.36 |
| 7 | New York | $81,670 | $39.27 | 1,140 | 0.96 |
| 8 | Washington | $81,310 | $39.09 | 390 | 0.89 |
| 9 | Nevada | $81,090 | $38.99 | 360 | 1.91 |
| 10 | Oregon | $80,950 | $38.92 | 110 | 0.44 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $79,320 | $38.14 | 290 | 0.65 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $76,960 | $37.00 | 140 | 0.37 |
| 13 | Vermont | $74,110 | $35.63 | 30 | 0.87 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $72,280 | $34.75 | 310 | 0.85 |
| 15 | Idaho | $71,160 | $34.21 | 160 | 1.51 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $71,090 | $34.18 | 40 | 0.67 |
| 17 | Maine | $70,870 | $34.07 | 40 | 0.46 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $70,500 | $33.90 | 300 | 0.73 |
| 19 | Virginia | $68,900 | $33.12 | 770 | 1.52 |
| 20 | Iowa | $67,060 | $32.24 | 130 | 0.66 |
| 21 | Utah | $66,780 | $32.11 | 220 | 1.03 |
| 22 | Indiana | $66,520 | $31.98 | 320 | 0.81 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $65,940 | $31.70 | 110 | 0.50 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $65,920 | $31.69 | 150 | 1.16 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $65,570 | $31.52 | 200 | 1.84 |
| 26 | Florida | $64,140 | $30.84 | 1,920 | 1.57 |
| 27 | Georgia | $63,600 | $30.58 | 550 | 0.92 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $63,330 | $30.45 | 110 | 1.23 |
| 29 | Arizona | $63,250 | $30.41 | 900 | 2.25 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $63,220 | $30.39 | 60 | 0.11 |
| 31 | Missouri | $62,750 | $30.17 | 350 | 0.96 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $61,580 | $29.60 | 360 | 0.49 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $61,470 | $29.56 | 60 | 0.25 |
| 34 | Texas | $59,870 | $28.79 | 1,900 | 1.10 |
| 35 | Alabama | $59,560 | $28.64 | 160 | 0.61 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $59,240 | $28.48 | 520 | 0.86 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $52,850 | $25.41 | 140 | 0.99 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $52,100 | $25.05 | 90 | 2.51 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $51,830 | $24.92 | 160 | 0.56 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $51,690 | $24.85 | 30 | 0.58 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $44,670 | $21.48 | 100 | 0.65 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do forensic science technicians make?
The median annual wage for forensic science technicians in the United States is $72,060, or $34.65 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $48,250, and the top 10% earn $117,250.
How many forensic science technicians are employed in the U.S.?
About 19,120 people work as forensic science technicians nationwide.
Which state pays forensic science technicians the most?
Illinois pays the most at a median of $124,790, followed by California ($102,100) and Connecticut ($85,910).
Which state pays forensic science technicians the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $44,670.
Where are forensic science technicians jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Wyoming at 2.51×.