Forensic Science Technician Salary

A forensic science technician is a person who works in the field of forensic science. The terms “forensic scientist” and forensic science technician are completely interchangeable, so you may be suited for this career path if you have looked into work as a forensic scientist in the past. Before you get too far into this career though, you probably want to know what you could possibly make in your forensic science technician salary. That may determine if this is the right criminal justice career for you. Here is a look at some of the salary setups you may find as a forensic science technician so you can determine if you want to go through with a career in this field.

Average Forensic Science Technician Salary

On average, a forensic science technician will earn between $20,000 and $80,000 a year. This is obviously a significant gap, so you may want to get a better idea of where your pay will fall in that salary range. Entry level technicians make up 29% of the population for workers in this sector of the job force, and they are the ones that usually make between $20,000 and $30,000 a year. Professionals with 20 years of experience of more in forensic science only make up 6% of the population, but they usually earn over $100,000 a year. There are plenty of opportunities to make a good living as a forensic science technician. You just have to put forth an effort to get the forensic science technician salary you feel you deserve.

Forensic Science Salary by Location

Every area of the country is a little different when it comes to how much money it has to offer forensic science technicians. If you work in an area with a high cost of living or a high demand for experts in your field of study, you will have the best chance of getting a high paying salary in the future. Here are some of the areas that offer the highest forensic science technician salaries in the country:

• (1) Washington, D.C.: $48,980 – $213,500
• (2) Chicago, Illinois: $54,045 – $63,879
• (3) Seattle, Washington: $41,437 – $56,810
• (4) Lost Angeles, California: $39,305 – $68,163
• (5) Atlanta, Georgia: $30,167 – $110,055
• (6) New York City, New York: $30,000 – $140,000

Forensic Science Technician Salary by Degree

Your degree program will not play a huge role in determining your salary. What you do with your degree will though. Here is a chart outlining what graduates from different degree programs have earned through their work in forensic science:

• Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science: $34,000 – $97,000
• Bachelor of Science in Biology: $29,669 – $79,713
• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry: $39,500 – $180,000
• Master of Science in Forensic Science: $30,201 – $74,710

Forensic Science Technician Salary by Industry

Forensic science technicians are in demand for many different industries, many of which offer top dollar pay options for qualified employees. If you look for an industry that has great pay and abundant work opportunities, you will be able to secure the best forensic science technician salary possible. Here are some of the top paying industries in the job market at this time:

• Analytical and Laboratory Services: $30,139 – $88,951
• Government and Public Law Offices: $28,993 – $84,327
• Government: $33,072 – $98,436
• Law Enforcement: $32,288 – $99,091
• Science and Engineering Services: $29,694 – $93,196

Forensic Science Technician Salary by Gender

Women make up 56% of employed forensic science technicians in the criminal justice system, and men cover 44% of the population. With that in mind, men tend to make more money in this career than their female counterparts. Possible salaries based on gender include

• Male: $40,525 – $93,598
• Female: $37,151 – $62,713

There are many factors that will go into determining your forensic science technician salary, but you can control most of those factors on your own. Make an effort to get the education you need for a high paying job, and then all you will have to do is stick with this career long enough to start seeing rewards from it.

Note that the information above is courtesy of PayScale.com as of December 24, 2011. It may not reflect the information at the time you read this article.