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Forensic Science Technicians is a notable career in the 19 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Forensic Science Technicians against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 19-4092 |
| title | Forensic Science Technicians |
| onet code | 19-4092.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 3 |
| major group | 19 |
| tot emp | 19,450 |
| a mean | 75,260 |
| a median | 67,440 |
| a pct10 | 45,560 |
| a pct25 | 53,310 |
| a pct75 | 88,710 |
| a pct90 | 110,710 |
| h mean | 36 |
| h median | 32 |
The day-to-day work of a forensic science technicians typically centers on collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Writing. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.67 out of 5 — highly rated for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working forensic science technicians, the most common entry qualification is a Post (36.3%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 34% of incumbents. Entry pathways are mixed; a meaningful minority enters without a four-year degree.
Median annual pay is highest in Illinois at $117,590 and lowest in Arkansas at $46,210 — a 2.5× spread. The top five states (Illinois, California, Connecticut, Montana, Maryland) average $91,238. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $117,590 | $106,120 | $57,590 | $147,370 | 380 |
| California | $96,850 | $99,390 | $61,380 | $137,020 | 3,100 |
| Connecticut | $84,920 | $82,350 | $40,450 | $105,530 | 120 |
| Montana | $78,610 | $70,190 | $38,470 | $97,670 | 60 |
| Maryland | $78,220 | $82,730 | $58,440 | $110,760 | 410 |
| New York | $78,170 | $80,470 | $60,680 | $101,370 | 1,120 |
| Oregon | $78,100 | $81,460 | $53,090 | $129,220 | 110 |
| Colorado | $77,800 | $80,790 | $59,400 | $103,660 | 430 |
| Washington | $77,650 | $78,550 | $58,090 | $103,650 | 340 |
| Nevada | $76,540 | $82,350 | $52,350 | $127,890 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $75,210 | $80,590 | $60,560 | $105,010 | 270 |
| Kansas | $75,150 | $72,710 | $49,620 | $99,720 | 200 |
| North Dakota | $74,470 | $74,900 | $54,410 | $95,680 | 30 |
| Ohio | $73,310 | $89,330 | $50,720 | $118,100 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | $78,510 | $45,830 | $127,040 | 320 |
| Michigan | $69,040 | $85,070 | $36,500 | $198,320 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $68,790 | $72,550 | $50,530 | $101,150 | 110 |
| Maine | $68,710 | $62,310 | $44,470 | $74,320 | 30 |
| Vermont | $67,750 | $71,560 | $54,680 | $91,540 | 30 |
| Indiana | $65,770 | $67,390 | $40,750 | $90,130 | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $64,990 | $65,750 | $43,990 | $95,690 | 110 |
| Missouri | $64,700 | $64,690 | $45,360 | $87,420 | 280 |
| Utah | $64,430 | $66,970 | $45,960 | $88,940 | 210 |
| Iowa | $63,650 | $66,110 | $34,240 | $97,220 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $63,390 | $63,880 | $45,140 | $80,080 | 120 |
| Virginia | $62,860 | $73,340 | $46,900 | $107,210 | 740 |
| Wisconsin | $61,920 | $66,100 | $50,210 | $95,470 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $61,890 | $65,990 | $44,490 | $96,410 | 200 |
| Florida | $61,070 | $64,620 | $39,890 | $90,570 | 2,440 |
| Wyoming | $60,670 | $64,700 | $45,870 | $88,510 | 50 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | $68,880 | $45,590 | $109,850 | 880 |
| Idaho | $60,470 | $72,720 | $41,000 | $112,390 | 170 |
| West Virginia | $59,930 | $59,760 | $38,190 | $80,550 | 90 |
| Alabama | $59,560 | $61,120 | $38,910 | $82,620 | 160 |
| Georgia | $58,500 | $61,420 | $39,060 | $83,600 | 540 |
| Kentucky | $58,230 | $57,210 | $46,980 | $70,670 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,820 | $61,090 | $40,260 | $84,410 | 440 |
| Texas | $55,830 | $58,040 | $40,290 | $79,900 | 1,990 |
| Mississippi | $54,720 | $57,480 | $36,950 | $82,890 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $54,230 | $59,480 | $40,650 | $81,190 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $50,460 | $56,290 | $42,720 | $77,720 | 520 |
| South Carolina | $49,960 | $52,170 | $37,490 | $69,510 | 130 |
| South Dakota | $49,280 | $49,450 | $24,960 | $80,050 | 30 |
| Arkansas | $46,210 | $48,610 | $39,680 | $62,370 | 170 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for forensic science technicians. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Ballistician or Ballistics Technician (Ballistics Tech) frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Forensic Science Technicians compares to others in the 19 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Forensic Science Technicians
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.