Forensic Science Technicians vs Microbiologists: $72K vs $88K Median Pay

Forensic Science Technicians vs Microbiologists: what changes?

Consider Forensic Science Technicians if you want to collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Consider Microbiologists if you would rather investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Forensic Science Technicians and Microbiologists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Forensic Science Technicians

National median pay (2025): $72,060
Route into the job: 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
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,800

Know before you choose

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

See the full Forensic Science Technicians brief

Microbiologists

National median pay (2025): $87,990
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,500

Know before you choose

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

See the full Microbiologists brief

How the national numbers differ

Microbiologists has the edge on median pay

Microbiologists is at $87,990, compared with $72,060 for Forensic Science Technicians.

Forensic Science Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Forensic Science Technicians is at 13.3% projected growth, compared with 6.2% projected growth for Microbiologists.

Forensic Science Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Forensic Science Technicians is at 2,800 annual openings, compared with 1,500 annual openings for Microbiologists.

Typical preparation differs.

Forensic Science Technicians: 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 Microbiologists: Bachelor's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

61.7/ 100

Forensic Science Technicians

55.2/ 100

Microbiologists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Forensic Science Technicians vs Microbiologists

Dimension	Forensic Science Technicians	Microbiologists
Median pay (2025)	$72,060	$87,990
Pay percentile	61.9 percentile	76.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	13.3%	6.2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	2,800	1,500
2025 employment	20,100	20,100
How you qualify	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	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Forensic Science Technicians brief Read Microbiologists brief

Forensic Science Technicians vs Microbiologists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Forensic Science Technicians

Microbiologists

How the national numbers differ

Microbiologists has the edge on median pay

Forensic Science Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Forensic Science Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Forensic Science Technicians vs Microbiologists

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