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Role hub · Forensic Science Technicians

Forensic Scientist: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

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Updated Oct 24, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
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Median percentile pay

Half of forensic scientists earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$72,060
Hourly
$34.65
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Forensic Scientists collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. The median pay is $72,060 a year ($34.65 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a post-secondary certificate (36% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$72,060
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
19,120
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 3 of 5
medium preparation
Most common education
Post-Secondary Certificate
36% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Forensic Science Technicians (O*NET-SOC 19-4092.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

Explore the role

Every page for Forensic Scientists

SalaryForensic Scientist salary

Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.

Open →How to becomeForensic Scientist how to become

Education, training and the skills to build first.

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Parsed text, evidence per bullet, fixes first.

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The work

What forensic scientists do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
  2. Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
  3. Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
  4. Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
  5. Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
  6. Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
  7. Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
  8. Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Reading ComprehensioncoreActive ListeningcoreWritingcoreSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision Making

Knowledge areas: Law and Government, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service.

Tools and technology

Software forensic scientists use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Guidance Software EnCase EnterpriseAnalytical or scientific softwareIn demand
  • Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareHot technology
  • Microsoft VisioProcess mapping and design softwareHot technology
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD softwareComputer aided design CAD software
  • DM2 Bills of LadingAnalytical or scientific software
  • DesignWare 3D EyeWitnessGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Eos Systems PhotoModelerGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Graphics softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Image enhancement softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Laboratory information management system LIMSAnalytical or scientific software
  • Mideo Systems EZDoc PlusGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Midwest Information Systems PAX-itGraphics or photo imaging software

Also called: Forensic Science Technician, Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Analyst (CSA), Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech), Criminalist, CSI (Crime Scene Investigator), Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech).

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).