Jobs Similar to Forensic Science Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to forensic science technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Police Identification and Records Officers, Environmental Science and Protection Technicians and Environmental Compliance Inspectors.
Forensic Science Technicians: $72,060 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Forensic Science Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 80% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSame group | 79% | $55,090−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 76% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Radiologists | 75% | $420,860+484% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 75% | $82,220+14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 74% | $101,370+41% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Forest and Conservation TechniciansSame group | 74% | $54,560−24% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Nuclear Monitoring TechniciansSame group | 74% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 9 | Animal Control Workers | 73% | $45,660−37% | High school |
| 10 | Traffic Technicians | 73% | $59,090−18% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Fish and Game Wardens | 73% | $74,060+3% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 73% | $75,920+5% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Coroners | 73% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | 72% | $95,480+33% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 72% | $115,160+60% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 72% | $76,780+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Conservation Scientists | 72% | $73,010+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Agricultural Inspectors | 71% | $49,940−31% | High school |
| 19 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 71% | $93,790+30% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 71% | $47,380−34% | Training or associate |
- 1Police Identification and Records Officers
80% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 2Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
79% similar · $55,090 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Environmental Compliance Inspectors
76% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Radiologists
75% similar · $420,860 (+484%) · Graduate degree
- 5Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
75% similar · $82,220 (+14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Nuclear Medicine Technologists
74% similar · $101,370 (+41%) · Training or associate
- 7Forest and Conservation Technicians
74% similar · $54,560 (−24%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
74% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Animal Control Workers
73% similar · $45,660 (−37%) · High school
- 10Traffic Technicians
73% similar · $59,090 (−18%) · Training or associate
- 11Fish and Game Wardens
73% similar · $74,060 (+3%) · Training or associate
- 12Fire Inspectors and Investigators
73% similar · $75,920 (+5%) · Training or associate
- 13Coroners
73% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
72% similar · $95,480 (+33%) · Training or associate
- 15Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
72% similar · $115,160 (+60%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
72% similar · $76,780 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Conservation Scientists
72% similar · $73,010 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Agricultural Inspectors
71% similar · $49,940 (−31%) · High school
- 19Detectives and Criminal Investigators
71% similar · $93,790 (+30%) · Training or associate
- 20Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
71% similar · $47,380 (−34%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than forensic science technicians.
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists74% similar · $101,370 (+41%)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists72% similar · $95,480 (+33%)
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators71% similar · $93,790 (+30%)
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators73% similar · $75,920 (+5%)
- Fish and Game Wardens73% similar · $74,060 (+3%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for forensic science technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where forensic science technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Police Identification and Records Officers (90)
- Coroners (83)
- Digital Forensics Analysts (74)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (73)
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators (73)
- Fish and Game Wardens (73)
- Traffic Technicians (73)
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators (71)
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists (71)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (71)
Questions about jobs like forensic science technicians
What jobs are most similar to forensic science technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Police Identification and Records Officers (80% similar), Environmental Science and Protection Technicians (79% similar), Environmental Compliance Inspectors (76% similar), Radiologists (75% similar) and Environmental Scientists and Specialists (75% similar).
Which jobs like forensic science technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +484%; usually a graduate degree), Health and Safety Engineers ($115,160, +60%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($101,370, +41%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with forensic science technicians ($72,060). Without more preparation than forensic science technicians usually need: Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists and Detectives and Criminal Investigators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.