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.
Also called: Ballistician, Ballistics Technician (Ballistics Tech), Biometric Fingerprint Technician (Biometric Fingerprint Tech), Biometric Fingerprinting Technician (Biometric Fingerprinting Tech), Biometrician, Blood Splatter Analyst
Median pay
$72,060
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$48,250 – $117,250
People employed
19,120
Holland code
IRC
Investigative · Realistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Forensic Science Technicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (41 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What forensic science technicians do
- 01Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- 02Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- 03Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- 04Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- 05Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- 06Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from forensic science technicians
- Police Identification and Records Officers90% · group pay
- Coroners83% · group pay
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators81% · +30%
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors75% · group pay
- Digital Forensics Analysts75% · group pay
Change into forensic science technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Police Identification and Records Officers90% · $93,790
- Coroners83% · $80,730
- Digital Forensics Analysts74% · $116,580
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors73% · $80,730
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators73% · $75,920
Majors that lead here
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Chemistry, General
- Forensic Chemistry
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science
- Forensic Science and Technology
- Forensic Anthropology
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.