Forensic technicians collect, identify, classify and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Their duties may include doing tests on weapons or substances such as fiber, hair, and tissue, and testifying in court. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2009, the forensic science technician annual salary at the 10th percentile (meaning 90 percent earn more) was $32,420. This salary likely represents a typical starting salary for a forensic technician.
Starting Salary by State
The BLS reports that the states with the highest 10th percentile salary for forensic science technicians were District of Columbia, at $46,630 per year; Illinois, at $45,750; California, at $42,300; Hawaii, at $40,650; and Kansas, at $40,100. In contrast, the 10th percentile salary in Nebraska was $22,070, in Arkansas $23,160, in South Carolina $23,390 and in Oklahoma $25,220.
Starting Salary by Industry
Of the 12,870 forensic technicians employed in the U.S. in 2009, about 55 percent worked for local government, with a 10th percentile salary of $33,230 per year, and about 33 percent worked for state government, with a 10th percentile salary of $31,280. The highest paying industry was the federal government, at $57,140, followed by management, scientific, and technical consulting services, at $44,510.
Median and Mean Salaries
The BLS also reports that the national median salary for forensic technicians in 2009 was $51,480, with 50 percent earning between $40,340 and $66,240. The annual mean salary was $55,070, with the highest paying states being Massachusetts, at $81,950; Wisconsin, at $79,080; and Kansas, at $73,430.
Salary by Experience
According to the website PayScale.com, as of January 2011, the salary ranges for forensic technicians are as follows: less than one year of experience, $29,577 to $46,255 per year; one to four years of experience, $28,713 to $43,158; five to nine years, $40,000 to $58,740; and 10 to 19 years, $48,279 to $86,474.
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