What is the salary of a Forensic Science Technician?

The typical salary range is $47,208 - $94,416 per year.

Research & DevelopmentGrowingBright Outlook

Forensic Science Technician

Operational-level

Also known as: Ballistician, Ballistics Technician (Ballistics Tech), Biometric Fingerprint Technician (Biometric Fingerprint Tech), Biometric Fingerprinting Technician (Biometric Fingerprinting Tech)

Research & DevelopmentBachelor's Degree

Job 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.

Forensic ScienceEvidence AnalysisCrime Scene InvestigationCriminalisticsScientific ResearchAnalytical ScienceLaw EnforcementResearchSTEMBeauty

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Adobe Photoshop Linux Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word

In-demand software

Guidance Software EnCase EnterpriseMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPoint

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+13.3%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

2,800

per year (US)

Jobs today

20,100

in 2025 → 22,800 (2035)

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Moderate

Working outdoors

High

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

High

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

This field is experiencing expansion with increasing job opportunities and career advancement potential. Market demand is rising, with new positions being created.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Crime Scene Investigator Assistant
Lab Assistant (Biology/Chemistry)
Evidence Clerk

Forensic Science Technician

Where it can lead

Forensic Scientist
Criminalist
Crime Lab Manager

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will significantly enhance forensic science by automating evidence processing, improving pattern recognition, and speeding up data analysis from DNA to ballistics. This could free technicians to focus on complex interpretation and expert testimony rather than routine tasks. However, it also demands new skills in interacting with AI tools and validating their outputs.

Salary

$72,060

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position