Science · Career brief

Forensic Science Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Forensic Science Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$72,060

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

13.3%

Strong projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

2,800

Relatively fewer openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is typically expected

Bachelor's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Analytical

Problem-solving and analysis dominate the profile

Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (20,100 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if analytical work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a bachelor's-degree path. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (20,100 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Microbiologists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Forensic Science Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Science Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$72,060

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

13.3%employment growth2,800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Bachelor's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

20,100

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Forensic science technicians (19-4092).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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 chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (20,100 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information4.5
Documenting/Recording Information4.2
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.2
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Investigative5.9
Realistic5.2
Conventional5.0
Artistic1.8
Enterprising1.6
Social1.5

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Law and Government Public Safety and Security Computers and Electronics Chemistry

Software and tools named in job postings

Guidance Software EnCase Enterprise

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Run a small investigation with a written hypothesis, observations or public data, and a conclusion that states what the evidence cannot prove.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Forensic science technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Guidance Software EnCase Enterprise; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options