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Kimmy Gustafson
The Ultimate Guide to Forensic Science Salaries (2021-22): By Location, Field, and Experience
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Forensics is the use of techniques or scientific tests in order to detect crime. This broad field encompasses professionals from lab technicians to IT professionals to doctors and even police officers. Work can be performed in a lab, out in the field, in an office, or one-on-one with clients or victims. Given the wide variety of jobs in forensics, salaries vary widely.
Aspiring forensic professionals are typically curious and detail-oriented. While they may choose to enter this career because they are interested in solving crimes, salary is also a consideration.
The primary variation for wages is in the role held. For example, forensic science technicians and arson investigators earn on the lower end for forensic professionals, while pathologists, pathologists’ assistants, and information security analysts earn the most. However, all forensics jobs listed in this guide pay more than the average annual salary for all professions, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Other variations in pay for forensics scientists come from the level of education completed. Within a specific role, such as a forensic science technician, professionals can hold anywhere from a bachelor’s degree to a doctorate. The level of education required will depend on the responsibilities required from a given employer and the type of investigation completed. Forensics professionals with advanced degrees typically earn more than their counterparts who have an undergrad.
Location can also factor into how much a forensic science professional gets paid. For the jobs covered in this guide, California and Alaska typically were among the top-paying states. In fact, California is listed in seven out of the eight jobs as the highest-paying state. Generally speaking, jobs in metropolitan areas will earn more than those in rural communities.
Most of the jobs in forensic science are growing faster than the national average of 4 percent between 2019 and 2029. Some jobs are just above average, such as detectives which sit at 5 percent, and others are growing at more than three times the national average, such as forensic science technicians, who are projected to grow 14 percent during that decade.
Continue reading to learn specifics about the salaries for different jobs in forensic science.
Please note that all data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2020)—the most current national data available as of July 2021.
How Much Do Forensic Science Technicians Make?
Including crime scene investigators, forensic scientists, criminalists, forensic chemists, and forensic entomologists
Number of forensic science technicians: 16,640
Salary:
- Average (mean): $64,890
- 10th percentile: $36,630
- 25th percentile:$46,460
- 50th percentile (median): $60,590
- 75th percentile: $79,330
- 90th percentile: $100,910
Top-Paying States:
- California $88,090 average
- Illinois $85,690
- Massachusetts $79,200
- Oregon $76,970
- Alaska $74,100
Top-Paying Industries:
- Federal Executive Branch $120,790 average
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $75,720
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $66,040
- Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals $65,840
- State Government, excluding schools and hospitals $64,770
How Much Do Detectives Make?
Number of detectives: 105,980
Salary:
- Average (mean): $89,300
- 10th percentile: $46,020
- 25th percentile: $59,620
- 50th percentile (median): $86,940
- 75th percentile: $111,900
- 90th percentile: $146,000
Top-Paying States:
- Alaska $126,340 average
- Maryland $113,500
- Hawaii $113,150
- California $111,480
- New Jersey $106,120
Top-Paying Industries:
- Federal Executive Branch $111,880 average
- Postal Service (federal government) $104,300
- Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals $81,770
- Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals $77,120
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $72,410
How Much Do Police Officers Make?
Number of police officers: 654,900
Salary:
- Average (mean): $70,000
- 10th percentile: $38,420
- 25th percentile: $48,950
- 50th percentile (median): $65,540
- 75th percentile: $86,880
- 90th percentile: $109,040
Top-Paying States:
- California $107,440 average
- New Jersey $90,700
- Alaska $88,120
- Washington $82,740
- Hawaii $81,460
Top-Paying Industries:
- State Government, excluding schools and hospitals $77,230 average
- Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals $69,940
- Federal Executive Branch $62,050
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $59,790
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $59,700
How Much Do Information Security (Cybersecurity) Analysts Make?
Number of information security analysts: 138,000
Salary:
- Average (mean): $107,580
- 10th percentile: $60,060
- 25th percentile: $78,440
- 50th percentile (median): $103,590
- 75th percentile: $132,890
- 90th percentile: $163,300
Top-Paying States:
- California $125,990 average
- New York $125,920
- New Jersey $123,280
- District of Columbia $119,460
- Virginia $116,920
Top-Paying Industries:
- Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses $132,150 average
- Other Information Services $131,050
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing $128,330
- Automotive Repair and Maintenance $127,150
- Legal Services $125,980
How Much Do Pathologists’ Assistants Make?
Number of physicians’ assistants (BLS classification for pathologists’ assistants): 125,280
Salary:
- Average (mean): $116,080
- 10th percentile: $76,700
- 25th percentile: $95,730
- 50th percentile (median): $115,390
- 75th percentile: $135,220
- 90th percentile: $162,470
Top-Paying States:
- Alaska $150,430 average
- Connecticut $146,110
- Rhode Island $135,800
- California $135,180
- Nevada $134,710
Top-Paying Industries:
- Personal Care Services $144,260 average
- Outpatient Care Centers $128,820
- Scientific Research and Development Services $124,400
- Employment Services $120,400
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities $119,970
How Much Do Pathologists or Medical Examiners Make?
Number of physicians (BLS classification for pathologists or medical examiners): 375,390
Salary:
- Average (mean): $218,850
- 10th percentile: $61,380
- 25th percentile: $126,470
- 50th percentile (median): >$208,000 per year
- 75th percentile: >$208,000 per year
- 90th percentile: >$208,000 per year
Please note that the BLS does not give specific figures for ranges in excess of $208,000.
Top-Paying States:
- Maine $279,700 average
- Montana $271,560
- South Dakota $269,100
- Alaska $266,200
- Wyoming $263,540
Top-Paying Industries:
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services >$208,000 average
- Health and Personal Care Stores $274,930
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities $267,430
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services $259,320
- Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories $258,490
How Much Do Arson Investigators Make?
Number of arson investigators (fire inspectors and investigators): 14,010
Salary:
- Average (mean): $67,680
- 10th percentile: $39,860
- 25th percentile: $50,230
- 50th percentile (median): $64,610
- 75th percentile: $81,800
- 90th percentile: $100,780
Top-Paying States:
- California $109,850 average
- Idaho $103,310
- Oregon $99,630
- Washington $96,660
- Nevada $90,550
Top-Paying Industries:
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services $101,000 average
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $76,360
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $71,970
- Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals $69,010
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities $68,580
How Much Do Forensic Nurse Examiners Make?
Number of registered nurses (BLS classification for forensic nurse examiners): 2,986,500
Salary:
- Average (mean): $80,010
- 10th percentile: $53,410
- 25th percentile: $61,630
- 50th percentile (median): $75,330
- 75th percentile: $93,590
- 90th percentile: $116,230
Top-Paying States:
- California $120,560 average
- Hawaii $104,830
- Massachusetts $96,250
- Oregon $96,230
- Alaska $95,270
Top-Paying Industries:
- Business Support Services $106,670 average
- Federal Executive Branch $96,230
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing $92,110
- Other Investment Pools and Funds $91,990
- Office Administrative Services $89,490
Kimmy Gustafson’s expertise and passion for investigative storytelling extends to the world of forensics, where she brings a wealth of knowledge and captivating narratives to readers seeking insights into this intriguing world. She has interviewed experts on little-known topics, such as how climate crimes are investigated and prosecuted, and has written for ForensicsColleges.com since 2019.
Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.