Work Environment
Forensic science technicians held about 17,200 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of forensic science technicians were as follows:
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals - 59%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals - 28%
- Testing laboratories - 3%
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories - 3%
Forensic science technicians may have to work outside in all types of weather, spend many hours in laboratories and offices, or do some combination of both. They often work with specialists and other law enforcement personnel. Many specialist forensic science technicians work only in laboratories.
Crime scene investigators may travel throughout their jurisdictions, which may be cities, counties, or states.
Work Schedules
Crime scene investigators may work staggered day, evening, or night shifts and may have to work overtime because they must always be available to collect or analyze evidence. Technicians working in laboratories usually work a standard workweek, although they may have to be on call outside of normal business hours if they are needed to work immediately on a case.
Job Outlook
Employment of forensic science technicians is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 2,500 openings for forensic science technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Because this is a small occupation, its fast growth is expected to result in only about 2,700 new jobs over the decade.
State and local governments are expected to hire additional forensic science technicians to process their high caseloads. Additionally, scientific and technological advances are expected to increase the availability, reliability, and usefulness of objective forensic information used as evidence in trials. As a result, more forensic science technicians will be needed to provide forensics information to law enforcement agencies and courts.
Earnings
The median annual wage for forensic science technicians was $61,930 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,430.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for forensic science technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- State government, excluding education and hospitals - $64,250
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals - $61,930
- Testing laboratories - $49,900
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories - $36,570
Crime scene investigators may work staggered day, evening, or night shifts and may have to work overtime because they must always be available to collect or analyze evidence. Technicians working in laboratories usually work a standard workweek, although they may have to be on call outside of normal business hours if they are needed to work immediately on a case.
