Best degree programs for Forensic Science Technicians, ranked by enrollment
7 college programs and 1,763 schools train Forensic Science Technicians. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $72,060 median wage, 19,120 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
7 college programs at 1,763 schools train forensic science technicians, graduating 116,562 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Biology/Biological Sciences, General. The job pays a median of $72,060 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
7 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0101 | 90,079 | 77.3% | 1,660 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 40.0501 | 18,075 | 15.5% | 1,168 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 3 | Forensic Science and Technologymain feeder CIP 43.0406 | 5,008 | 4.3% | 239 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 4 | CIP 43.0100 | 2,344 | 2.0% | 75 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 5 | Criminalistics and Criminal Sciencemain feeder CIP 43.0402 | 622 | 0.5% | 31 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 6 | CIP 40.0510 | 353 | 0.3% | 30 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 7 | CIP 45.0205 | 81 | 0.1% | 7 | $27,806 | $23,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What forensic science technicians earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $102,100 | 2,800 | 1.25× | 172 | 17,017 |
| Texas | $59,870 | 1,900 | 1.10× | 100 | 9,652 |
| New York | $81,670 | 1,140 | 0.96× | 110 | 7,649 |
| Florida | $64,140 | 1,920 | 1.57× | 45 | 5,835 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,580 | 360 | 0.49× | 109 | 4,912 |
| North Carolina | $59,240 | 520 | 0.86× | 64 | 4,415 |
| Georgia | $63,600 | 550 | 0.92× | 55 | 4,022 |
| Arizona | $63,250 | 900 | 2.25× | 26 | 3,935 |
| Massachusetts | $79,320 | 290 | 0.65× | 63 | 3,900 |
| Ohio | — | 470 | 0.69× | 64 | 3,696 |
| Virginia | $68,900 | 770 | 1.52× | 41 | 3,557 |
| Illinois | $124,790 | 370 | 0.49× | 53 | 3,196 |
| Michigan | — | 650 | 1.21× | 44 | 2,946 |
| Indiana | $66,520 | 320 | 0.81× | 43 | 2,695 |
| New Jersey | $63,220 | 60 | 0.11× | 36 | 2,626 |
| Missouri | $62,750 | 350 | 0.96× | 45 | 2,131 |
| Maryland | $82,140 | 460 | 1.36× | 29 | 2,070 |
| Wisconsin | $72,280 | 310 | 0.85× | 30 | 2,059 |
| South Carolina | $51,830 | 160 | 0.56× | 30 | 2,013 |
| Minnesota | $76,960 | 140 | 0.37× | 45 | 1,863 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | 300 | 0.73× | 37 | 1,722 |
| Washington | $81,310 | 390 | 0.89× | 33 | 1,664 |
| Louisiana | — | 240 | 0.99× | 22 | 1,657 |
| Colorado | $84,010 | 510 | 1.46× | 29 | 1,580 |
| Alabama | $59,560 | 160 | 0.61× | 25 | 1,511 |
| Oklahoma | $65,940 | 110 | 0.50× | 29 | 1,354 |
| Connecticut | $85,910 | 120 | 0.59× | 20 | 1,289 |
| Kentucky | $61,470 | 60 | 0.25× | 26 | 1,186 |
| Utah | $66,780 | 220 | 1.03× | 10 | 1,168 |
| Mississippi | $52,850 | 140 | 0.99× | 22 | 1,167 |
| Oregon | $80,950 | 110 | 0.44× | 23 | 1,043 |
| Iowa | $67,060 | 130 | 0.66× | 40 | 929 |
| Arkansas | $44,670 | 100 | 0.65× | 21 | 900 |
| Nebraska | $65,920 | 150 | 1.16× | 20 | 774 |
| West Virginia | $63,330 | 110 | 1.23× | 16 | 726 |
| Nevada | $81,090 | 360 | 1.91× | 6 | 585 |
| New Mexico | $65,570 | 200 | 1.84× | 15 | 542 |
| Idaho | $71,160 | 160 | 1.51× | 10 | 439 |
| Maine | $70,870 | 40 | 0.46× | 15 | 388 |
| Montana | $82,200 | 60 | 0.95× | 11 | 369 |
| North Dakota | $71,090 | 40 | 0.67× | 8 | 307 |
| Vermont | $74,110 | 30 | 0.87× | 7 | 290 |
| South Dakota | $51,690 | 30 | 0.58× | 9 | 283 |
| Wyoming | $52,100 | 90 | 2.51× | 6 | 87 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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 photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
- Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
- Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Learning3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Science3.3
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government4.5
- Public Safety and Security4.2
- Education and Training3.7
- English Language3.6
- Computers and Electronics3.4
- Customer and Personal Service3.3
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Inductive Reasoning4.0
- Near Vision4.0
- Flexibility of Closure4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
Core activities
- 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
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.1
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Forensic Science Technician
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 7 majors mapped to Forensic Science Technicians7 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 40.0501Chemistry, General
- 40.0510Forensic Chemistry
- 43.0100Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- 43.0402Criminalistics and Criminal Science
- 43.0406Forensic Science and Technology
- 45.0205Forensic Anthropology
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Forensic Science Technician?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 90,079 degrees in 2024-25, 77.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Forensic Science Technician?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 7 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Chemistry, Security Science and Technology, Criminal Justice and Corrections, plus 1 more. Together they graduate about 116,562 people a year.
How much do forensic science technicians earn?+
The median is $72,060 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $48,250 at the 10th percentile to $117,250 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for forensic science technicians growing?+
BLS projects a +12.8% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 2,900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,763 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 7 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do forensic science technicians work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Criminalist, Forensic Scientist, CSI (Crime Scene Investigator), Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-4092.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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