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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
17,020 1.1 % $ 32.14 $ 66,850 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Forensic Science Technicians:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.11 $ 22.96 $ 29.78 $ 38.78 $ 49.73
Annual Wage (2) $ 37,670 $ 47,750 $ 61,930 $ 80,670 $ 103,430


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) 10,730 0.20 $ 32.92 $ 68,480
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 4,530 0.21 $ 32.11 $ 66,790
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 510 0.17 $ 19.46 $ 40,480
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 450 0.03 $ 26.92 $ 55,990
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 150 0.00 $ 28.98 $ 60,280

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 $ 32.11 $ 66,790
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,730 0.20 $ 32.92 $ 68,480
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 510 0.17 $ 19.46 $ 40,480
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 450 0.03 $ 26.92 $ 55,990
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 120 0.01 $ 54.91 $ 114,220

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) 120 0.01 $ 54.91 $ 114,220
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 50 (7) $ 36.25 $ 75,400
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,730 0.20 $ 32.92 $ 68,480
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 4,530 0.21 $ 32.11 $ 66,790
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8) (8) $ 29.35 $ 61,040


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 2021


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 2,670 0.16 1.34 $ 43.41 $ 90,300
Florida 1,760 0.20 1.69 $ 26.77 $ 55,690
Texas 1,690 0.14 1.14 $ 27.37 $ 56,940
Arizona 910 0.31 2.60 $ 31.14 $ 64,780
New York 760 0.09 0.73 $ 39.12 $ 81,370


Map of location quotient of forensic science technicians by state, May 2021


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 910 0.31 2.60 $ 31.14 $ 64,780
Nevada 370 0.29 2.39 $ 33.73 $ 70,160
Idaho 160 0.21 1.72 $ 27.35 $ 56,890
Florida 1,760 0.20 1.69 $ 26.77 $ 55,690
New Mexico 150 0.20 1.64 $ 26.45 $ 55,020


Map of annual mean wages of forensic science technicians by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Forensic Science Technicians:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Illinois 320 0.06 0.47 $ 43.43 $ 90,330
California 2,670 0.16 1.34 $ 43.41 $ 90,300
Massachusetts 110 0.03 0.26 $ 40.74 $ 84,740
New York 760 0.09 0.73 $ 39.12 $ 81,370
Oregon 210 0.12 0.96 $ 39.11 $ 81,340



Map of employment of forensic science technicians by area, May 2021


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 1,090 0.19 1.58 $ 46.62 $ 96,980
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 660 0.31 2.60 $ 32.15 $ 66,880
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 530 0.06 0.50 $ 40.43 $ 84,090
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 500 0.17 1.43 $ 30.92 $ 64,310
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 490 0.19 1.58 $ 24.94 $ 51,880
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 450 0.15 1.26 $ 41.05 $ 85,380
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 420 0.17 1.42 $ 32.29 $ 67,170
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 380 0.11 0.87 $ 29.34 $ 61,030
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 340 0.15 1.27 $ 46.35 $ 96,410
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 340 0.13 1.06 $ 26.84 $ 55,820


Map of location quotient of forensic science technicians by area, May 2021


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)
Tallahassee, FL 120 0.71 5.90 $ 23.92 $ 49,760
Topeka, KS 60 0.56 4.66 $ 34.46 $ 71,680
Missoula, MT 30 0.52 4.33 $ 34.61 $ 71,980
Ocala, FL 50 0.45 3.73 $ 23.46 $ 48,800
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 140 0.44 3.65 $ 22.64 $ 47,090
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 70 0.43 3.56 $ 24.89 $ 51,760
Reno, NV 100 0.42 3.46 $ 34.44 $ 71,620
Tucson, AZ 150 0.41 3.40 $ 28.18 $ 58,600
Jackson, MS 90 0.36 2.96 $ 25.37 $ 52,780
Fayetteville, NC 40 0.35 2.89 $ 22.20 $ 46,170


Map of annual mean wages of forensic science technicians by area, May 2021


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 0.13 1.10 $ 51.25 $ 106,600
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,090 0.19 1.58 $ 46.62 $ 96,980
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 340 0.15 1.27 $ 46.35 $ 96,410
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 50 0.17 1.44 $ 46.24 $ 96,170
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 80 0.03 0.24 $ 43.61 $ 90,710
Santa Rosa, CA 30 0.18 1.45 $ 42.10 $ 87,560
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 130 0.11 0.93 $ 41.84 $ 87,030
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 170 0.17 1.41 $ 41.60 $ 86,530
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 200 0.14 1.18 $ 41.42 $ 86,150
New Haven, CT 70 0.25 2.04 $ 41.21 $ 85,730

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 0.38 3.10 $ 26.45 $ 55,010
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 0.72 $ 27.08 $ 56,320

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 0.38 3.10 $ 26.45 $ 55,010
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 0.72 $ 27.08 $ 56,320

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)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 0.72 $ 27.08 $ 56,320
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 30 0.38 3.10 $ 26.45 $ 55,010


About May 2021 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.

(8) Estimate not released.

(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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022