Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
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National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Forensic science technicians work in a specialized field that combines science, analysis, and detailed documentation. Nationally, this career employs about 21,000 people, with a median annual salary of $67,440 and projected employment growth of 12.8%. This combination suggests a field with both established employment and room for expansion. The role calls for strong skills in science, critical and analytical thinking, and computers and information technology, supported by strengths in writing and reading, problem solving and decision making, and speaking and listening. Success in this career also relies on being detail oriented, using mathematics, and at times applying mechanical abilities and customer service skills. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education level, which positions this path as accessible to many college graduates. Overall, forensic science technicians can expect a career that blends technical knowledge with careful analysis and communication in a growing profession.
Forensic science technicians earn a national median annual salary of $67,440, offering a solid earnings foundation. However, pay varies significantly by location. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $102,100, while New York, Washington, Colorado, and Massachusetts show median pay ranging from $79,320 to $84,010. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area reports a median salary of $137,280, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area reports $109,930. Several large metro areas—including New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH—also show median salaries above the national median. These figures indicate that geographic choice can have a meaningful impact on earning potential for forensic science technicians, especially in certain California and major East Coast metro areas.
Forensic science technicians have a national employment base of about 21,000, with a projected employment growth rate of 12.8%. This growth projection applies consistently across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting broadly similar expansion expectations in multiple regions. Nationally, there are an estimated 3,000 annual openings, which reflect both new positions and turnover in existing roles. The combination of current employment size, projected growth, and ongoing openings points to a career path with continuing demand over time. Job seekers can reasonably expect opportunities to arise across different parts of the country, as the same 12.8% growth rate appears in key states such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, as well as in major metro areas like San Jose, New York-Newark-Jersey City, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton.
Location plays a major role in career opportunities for forensic science technicians. Among states, California has the highest CareerGPS opportunity score at 67.38, with 2,800 employed and a median salary of $102,100. Massachusetts and New York also rank highly, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $79,320 and $81,670, respectively. Colorado and Washington round out the top five states, each with growth of 12.8% and salaries in the low $80,000 range. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $137,280. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 800. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also present strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving candidates several attractive regional options.
For forensic science technicians, the typical education requirement is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education aligns with the broad mix of skills associated with the career. Strong science skills are central, supported by critical and analytical thinking and competence with computers and information technology. Being detail oriented is also important, as are solid abilities in writing and reading to handle documentation and reports. Problem solving and decision making, along with speaking and listening, support effective communication in professional settings. Mathematics skills contribute to the analytical side of the work, while mechanical skills and customer service abilities round out the broader skill profile. Together, these requirements suggest that students and career changers preparing for this role should focus on developing a blend of scientific knowledge, analytical thinking, technology comfort, and clear communication at the bachelor’s degree level.
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