Financial Examiners
Median wage · national
$94,160
Range: $71K – $130K
Employed
68K
Openings/yr
5K
Typically: bachelor's degree
Forensic Science Technicians
Projected to grow +13.3% through 2035, Forensic Science Technicians is expanding faster than most occupations. Median pay is $72,060, and early movers in a growing field often advance faster.
About Forensic Science Technicians
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a forensic science technicians: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Biology and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $72,060
- Employed Nationally
- 19K
- Openings / Year
- 2,800
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Ballistician
Ballistics Technician (Ballistics Tech)
Biometric Fingerprint Technician (Biometric Fingerprint Tech)
Biometric Fingerprinting Technician (Biometric Fingerprinting Tech)
Biometrician
How Much Do Forensic Science Technicians Make?
Most forensic science technicians take home around $72,060 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $57,830 and $94,520, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$72,060
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$58K–$95K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$57,830
Entry-level
$72,060
Median
$94,520
Experienced
What Do Forensic Science Technicians Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Where Do Forensic Science Technicians Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Forensic Science Technicians?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +13.3%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 2,800 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +13.3%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Faster than average.
2,800
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
19K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Forensic Science Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $72,060 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,800 | $102,100 | +41.7% |
| 2 | Florida | 1,920 | $64,140 | -11.0% |
| 3 | Texas | 1,900 | $59,870 | -16.9% |
| 4 | New York | 1,140 | $81,670 | +13.3% |
| 5 | Arizona | 900 | $63,250 | -12.2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 5 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Criminal Justice program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 103,883 | $57,214 | 1,774 |
| 2 | Criminal Justice | 103,302 | $55,378 | 1,899 |
| 3 | Chemistry | 19,976 | $65,120 | 1,380 |
| 4 | Anthropology | 10,899 | $46,676 | 589 |
| 5 | Public Safety | 8,130 | $57,805 | 498 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Forensic Science Technicians
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Forensic Science Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Forensic Science Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Forensic Science Technicians Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Forensic Science Technicians a compelling path. The 2 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $72,060 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Fast-growing field At +13.3% projected growth through 2035, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
CONS
- Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Forensic Science Technicians mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.
Forensic Science Technicians Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Forensic Science Technicians professionals earn?
Around $72,060 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,830 and $94,520. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Forensic Science Technicians a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $72,060 median, with +13.3% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Forensic Science Technicians?
Most Forensic Science Technicians positions require a bachelor's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Biology are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Forensic Science Technicians?
Employment is projected to change by +13.3% through 2035, faster than average compared with other occupations. Around 2,800 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 19K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Forensic Science Technicians professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- High paying careers
- Associate degree
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- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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