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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

19-4092 Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.


National estimates for Forensic Science Technicians
Industry profile for Forensic Science Technicians
Geographic profile for Forensic Science Technicians

National estimates for Forensic Science Technicians:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Forensic Science Technicians:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
17,590 2.2 % $ 33.30 $ 69,260 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Forensic Science Technicians:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 19.09 $ 23.71 $ 30.64 $ 39.50 $ 50.16
Annual Wage (2) $ 39,710 $ 49,320 $ 63,740 $ 82,160 $ 104,330


Industry profile for Forensic Science Technicians:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Forensic Science Technicians are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Forensic Science Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Forensic Science Technicians:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,650 0.20 $ 34.15 $ 71,030
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 4,530 0.21 $ 32.36 $ 67,320
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,190 0.08 $ 30.86 $ 64,180
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 330 0.10 $ 21.95 $ 45,650
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 260 0.01 $ 22.56 $ 46,930

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Forensic Science Technicians:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 4,530 0.21 $ 32.36 $ 67,320
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,650 0.20 $ 34.15 $ 71,030
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 330 0.10 $ 21.95 $ 45,650
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,190 0.08 $ 30.86 $ 64,180
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 260 0.01 $ 22.56 $ 46,930

Top paying industries for Forensic Science Technicians:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 110 0.01 $ 54.81 $ 114,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 30 (7) $ 40.07 $ 83,350
Employment Services 30 (7) $ 35.08 $ 72,960
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,650 0.20 $ 34.15 $ 71,030
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 4,530 0.21 $ 32.36 $ 67,320


Geographic profile for Forensic Science Technicians:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Forensic Science Technicians are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Forensic Science Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of forensic science technicians by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Forensic Science Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 2,600 0.15 1.24 $ 45.02 $ 93,630
Florida 2,260 0.25 2.06 $ 29.32 $ 60,990
Texas 2,040 0.16 1.32 $ 28.40 $ 59,070
Arizona 820 0.27 2.28 $ 31.87 $ 66,280
New York 730 0.08 0.67 $ 39.47 $ 82,100


Map of location quotient of forensic science technicians by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Forensic Science Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Arizona 820 0.27 2.28 $ 31.87 $ 66,280
Nevada 370 0.26 2.19 $ 34.80 $ 72,380
Florida 2,260 0.25 2.06 $ 29.32 $ 60,990
Alaska 60 0.20 1.67 $ 34.01 $ 70,730
New Mexico 160 0.19 1.62 $ 27.30 $ 56,780


Map of annual mean wages of forensic science technicians by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Forensic Science Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oregon 270 0.14 1.20 $ 45.14 $ 93,900
California 2,600 0.15 1.24 $ 45.02 $ 93,630
Illinois 330 0.06 0.47 $ 43.94 $ 91,380
Massachusetts 100 0.03 0.23 $ 42.07 $ 87,500
New York 730 0.08 0.67 $ 39.47 $ 82,100



Map of employment of forensic science technicians by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Forensic Science Technicians:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,030 0.17 1.42 $ 49.26 $ 102,450
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 680 0.22 1.87 $ 31.56 $ 65,650
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 580 0.26 2.21 $ 33.06 $ 68,770
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 490 0.05 0.45 $ 40.71 $ 84,670
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 460 0.12 1.02 $ 30.20 $ 62,820
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 440 0.17 1.40 $ 39.39 $ 81,940
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 420 0.14 1.16 $ 42.57 $ 88,550
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 380 0.14 1.17 $ 26.86 $ 55,870
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 370 0.27 2.26 $ 27.75 $ 57,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 340 0.14 1.18 $ 47.08 $ 97,920


Map of location quotient of forensic science technicians by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Forensic Science Technicians:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Charleston, WV 70 0.74 6.20 $ 24.19 $ 50,320
Tallahassee, FL 120 0.65 5.49 $ 24.85 $ 51,680
Missoula, MT 30 0.54 4.55 $ 34.40 $ 71,550
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 80 0.45 3.77 $ 24.73 $ 51,440
Reno, NV 100 0.41 3.47 $ 35.79 $ 74,430
Tucson, AZ 140 0.38 3.18 $ 29.08 $ 60,490
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 130 0.38 3.17 $ 22.03 $ 45,820
Fayetteville, NC 50 0.37 3.13 $ 22.42 $ 46,630
Ocala, FL 40 0.37 3.08 $ 23.37 $ 48,600
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 50 0.36 3.03 $ 29.23 $ 60,790


Map of annual mean wages of forensic science technicians by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Forensic Science Technicians:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 140 0.12 1.02 $ 52.35 $ 108,890
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,030 0.17 1.42 $ 49.26 $ 102,450
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 340 0.14 1.18 $ 47.08 $ 97,920
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 50 0.16 1.37 $ 46.08 $ 95,850
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 70 0.03 0.21 $ 45.15 $ 93,910
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 120 0.10 0.82 $ 43.32 $ 90,100
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 210 0.14 1.17 $ 43.06 $ 89,570
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 420 0.14 1.16 $ 42.57 $ 88,550
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 160 0.15 1.28 $ 42.39 $ 88,180
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 240 0.05 0.45 $ 41.90 $ 87,150

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Forensic Science Technicians:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 30 0.36 3.01 $ 26.88 $ 55,920
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.08 0.68 $ 24.03 $ 49,990

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Forensic Science Technicians:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 30 0.36 3.01 $ 26.88 $ 55,920
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.08 0.68 $ 24.03 $ 49,990

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Forensic Science Technicians:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 30 0.36 3.01 $ 26.88 $ 55,920
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.08 0.68 $ 24.03 $ 49,990


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023