Science
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.
Median salary
$67,440
Typical range
$46k – $111k
Job outlook
+13% (much faster than average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Forensic Science Technicians
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Forensic Science Technicians
Entry / Junior
$45,560
~2 yrs to advance
Forensic Science Technicians
Established
$67,440
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Forensic Science Technicians
Senior
$89,075
Key skills
A typical day
- •Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- •Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- •Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- •Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- •Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Science
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- California Institute of Technology3% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.