Forensic Scientist Salary (July 2024) - Zippia (2024)

Quoted Expert

Patricia Rankin

Average forensic scientist salary

$71,351

$34.3 hourly rate

Entry-level forensic scientist salary

$45,000 yearly salary

Updated June 25, 2024

How much does a forensic scientist make?

The average forensic scientist salary in the United States is $71,351. Forensic scientist salaries typically range between $45,000 and $112,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for forensic scientists is $34.3 per hour.

Forensic scientist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Forensic scientists earn the highest average salary in Alaska.

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Forensic scientist salary by:

  • State
  • City
  • Company
  • Industry
  • Trends

Where can a Forensic Scientist earn more?

Compare salary by location

Vs

104k

84k

64k

44k

24k

Nebraska$92,039

Oklahoma City, OK$53,560

Compare salary by company

Vs

123k

103k

83k

63k

43k

23k

Alere$99,228

New York State Restaurant Association$53,280

Forensic Scientist salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Indeed, SalaryExpert, Comparably and Payscale, the average salary for a forensic scientist typically falls between $57,072 and $109,980.

zippia

$71,351yearly

indeed[1]

$66,555yearly

comparably[2]

$71,591yearly

Salary.com[3]

$109,980yearly

payscale[4]

$57,072yearly

SalaryExpert[5]

$81,592yearly

Average forensic scientist salary by state

The average forensic scientist salary in Alaska, California, and Utah are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average forensic scientist salary states are North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Georgia.

  • State View
  • County View

Average Salary:

Forensic Scientist Salary (July 2024) - Zippia (1)

Highest paying states for forensic scientists

RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
1Alaska$107,427$51.65
2North Dakota$93,411$44.91
3Utah$95,125$45.73
4Delaware$84,437$40.59
5Missouri$93,108$44.76
6Rhode Island$84,152$40.46
7Connecticut$84,806$40.77
8Maryland$83,622$40.20
9Nebraska$92,251$44.35
10Mississippi$92,744$44.59
11New Hampshire$81,629$39.24
12Maine$81,602$39.23
13Vermont$79,396$38.17
14West Virginia$81,730$39.29
15Ohio$81,506$39.19
16California$96,156$46.23
17South Dakota$73,015$35.10
18Nevada$80,884$38.89
19New Jersey$78,176$37.58
20Pennsylvania$75,069$36.09
21Illinois$76,390$36.73
22New Mexico$72,533$34.87
23Kentucky$77,448$37.23
24Massachusetts$83,021$39.91
25Montana$72,428$34.82
26South Carolina$74,029$35.59
27Minnesota$73,189$35.19
28District of Columbia$83,199$40.00
29Wyoming$66,733$32.08
30Washington$79,695$38.31
31Virginia$68,145$32.76
32Colorado$74,138$35.64
33Louisiana$73,384$35.28
34New York$68,400$32.88
35Oregon$69,903$33.61
36Wisconsin$65,360$31.42
37Arizona$68,826$33.09
38Hawaii$61,284$29.46
39Iowa$67,916$32.65
40North Carolina$53,766$25.85
41Idaho$61,392$29.52
42Indiana$64,603$31.06
43Texas$63,126$30.35
44Alabama$62,747$30.17
45Michigan$60,834$29.25
46Tennessee$53,864$25.90
47Kansas$50,487$24.27
48Georgia$53,100$25.53
49Arkansas$52,386$25.19
50Florida$49,050$23.58
51Oklahoma$53,170$25.56

Top forensic scientist jobs near you

Highest paying cities for forensic scientists

The highest-paying cities for forensic scientists are Lincoln, NE, Bridgeport, CT, and Dover, DE.

RankCityAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
1Lincoln, NE$92,039$44.25
2Bridgeport, CT$85,112$40.92
3Dover, DE$84,342$40.55
4Baltimore, MD$83,817$40.30
5Washington, DC$83,256$40.03
6Vancouver, WA$80,717$38.81
7Henderson, NV$79,881$38.40
8Henderson, KY$75,599$36.35
9Norristown, PA$75,452$36.27
10Aurora, CO$74,065$35.61
11Saint Paul, MN$73,308$35.24
12Glendale, AZ$68,996$33.17
13New Windsor, NY$68,276$32.83
14Richmond, VA$68,134$32.76
15Madison, WI$64,920$31.21
16Indianapolis, IN$64,444$30.98
17San Marcos, TX$62,809$30.20
18Meridian, ID$61,991$29.80
19Durham, NC$54,798$26.35
20Oklahoma City, OK$53,560$25.75

Forensic Scientist salary details

A forensic scientist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $112,000 at the 90th percentile.

Forensic Scientist Salary (July 2024) - Zippia (2)

What is a forensic scientist's salary?

PercentileAnnual SalaryMonthly SalaryHourly Rate
90th Percentile$112,000$9,333$54
75th Percentile$90,000$7,500$43
Average$71,351$5,946$34
25th Percentile$56,000$4,667$27
10th Percentile$45,000$3,750$22

Highest paying forensic scientist jobs

The highest paying types of forensic scientists are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
Research Fellow$53,823$4,485$25.8859,746
Laboratory Analyst$44,024$3,669$21.1744,074
Research Chemist$75,843$6,320$36.4653,769
Chemist$64,961$5,413$31.2320,221
Microbiologist$54,620$4,552$26.2611,444
Fingerprint Technician$39,867$3,322$19.1723,737

Top companies hiring forensic scientists now:

  1. Quest Diagnostics Jobs (95)
  2. BAE Systems Jobs (17)
  3. PSEA Jobs (6)
  4. Minnesota State Fair Jobs (5)
  5. University of Wisconsin System Jobs (3)

Which companies pay forensic scientists the most?

Forensic scientist salaries at Alere and Abbott are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average forensic scientist salary at companies like Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. and Quest Diagnostics are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly Rate
1Alere$99,228$47.71
2Abbott$93,960$45.17
3Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc.$86,830$41.75
4Quest Diagnostics$83,140$39.97
5RTI International Metals$80,603$38.75
6Pacific Architects and Engineers$74,715$35.92
7Arapahoe County$67,671$32.53
8Technical Associates$66,342$31.90
9Anoka County$65,250$31.37
10City of Scottsdale$64,693$31.10
11Washington State University$64,416$30.97
12SOS International$63,750$30.65
13Colorado State Express$63,040$30.31
14Minnesota State Fair$58,522$28.14
15University of Wisconsin System$57,622$27.70
16Alaska State Library$57,215$27.51
17Kelly Services$54,743$26.32
18The State of Oregon$53,882$25.90
19City of Mesa$53,289$25.62
20New York State Restaurant Association$53,280$25.62

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$78,000$77,000$76,000$75,000$74,000$73,000

MaleFemale

Forensic Scientist salary by industry

The average forensic scientist salary varies across industries:

  • The average forensic scientist salary in the health care industry is $81,611, the highest of any industry.
  • The average forensic scientist salary in the finance industry is $78,715.
  • Forensic scientists in the government industry earn an average salary of $53,275, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for forensic scientists

RankIndustryAverage SalaryHourly Rate
1Health Care$81,611$39.24
2Technology$78,715$37.84
3Professional$67,573$32.49
4Government$53,275$25.61

High Paying Forensic Scientist Jobs

Forensic Scientist salary trends

The average forensic scientist salary has risen by $9,904 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average forensic scientist earned $61,447 annually, but today, they earn $71,351 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for forensic scientists over the last decade.

Compare forensic scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average forensic scientist salary over time

Compare forensic scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

    Forensic Scientist salary by year

    YearAvg. SalaryHourly Rate% Change
    2024$71,400$34.30+2.4%
    2023$69,700$33.49+1.6%
    2022$68,600$32.97+0.7%
    2021$68,100$32.75+1.9%
    2020$66,800$32.13+0.8%

    Show more

    Recently added forensic scientist salaries

    CompanyJobLocationDate AddedSalary
    County of CuyahogaForensic ScientistCleveland, OH07/02/2023$62,337
    State of OregonForensic Scientist 1 (Forensic Scientist Entry Underfill Option)-Field Investigation and Latent PRSpringfield, OR06/30/2023$80,136
    State of MichiganForensic Scientist 9-P11-FSB/FSD/Lansing Laboratory-North/Toxicology UnitLansing, MI06/30/2023$47,195
    Colorado StateCBI Forensic Scientist (Biological Sciences)Denver, CO06/11/2023$89,232
    Indy govForensic Scientist-Drug ChemistryIndianapolis, IN06/09/2023$63,048
    Indy govForensic Scientist-Drug ChemistryIndianapolis, IN06/09/2023$63,048
    State of MinnesotaForensic Scientist 1Saint Paul, MN06/07/2023$56,396
    State of ArkansasForensic ScientistLittle Rock, AR06/07/2023$45,010
    State of WashingtonForensic Scientist 3 (In-Training) Materials AnalysisOlympia, WA06/07/2023$54,492
    State of ArkansasForensic ScientistLittle Rock, AR06/07/2023$45,010

    Show more

    Forensic Scientist salary FAQs

    Have more questions?

    See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

    Search for forensic scientist jobs

    Forensic Scientist Related Salaries

    • Assistant Research Scientist Salary
    • Associate Scientist Salary
    • Chemist Salary
    • Crime Specialist Salary
    • Laboratory Analyst Salary
    • Medical Science Liaison Salary
    • Microbiologist Salary
    • Postdoctoral Associate Salary
    • Postdoctoral Research Associate Salary
    • Research And Development Assistant Salary
    • Research And Development Scientist Salary
    • Research Associate Salary
    • Research Chemist Salary
    • Research Fellow Salary
    • Research Scientist Salary

    Forensic Scientist Related Careers

    • Assistant Research Scientist
    • Associate Scientist
    • Chemist
    • Crime Specialist
    • Fingerprint Technician
    • Laboratory Analyst
    • Medical Science Liaison
    • Microbiologist
    • Postdoctoral Associate
    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    • Research And Development Assistant
    • Research And Development Scientist
    • Research Associate
    • Research Chemist
    • Research Fellow

    Forensic Scientist Related Jobs

    • Assistant Research Scientist
    • Associate Scientist
    • Crime Specialist
    • Medical Science Liaison
    • Postdoctoral Associate
    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    • Research And Development Assistant
    • Research And Development Scientist
    • Research Associate
    • Research Scientist
    • Scientist
    • Senior Research Fellow
    • Senior Scientist
    • Staff Scientist

    What Similar Roles Do

    • What Does an Assistant Research Scientist Do
    • What Does an Associate Scientist Do
    • What Does a Chemist Do
    • What Does a Crime Specialist Do
    • What Does a Laboratory Analyst Do
    • What Does a Medical Science Liaison Do
    • What Does a Microbiologist Do
    • What Does a Postdoctoral Associate Do
    • What Does a Postdoctoral Research Associate Do
    • What Does a Research And Development Assistant Do
    • What Does a Research And Development Scientist Do
    • What Does a Research Associate Do
    • What Does a Research Chemist Do
    • What Does a Research Fellow Do
    • What Does a Research Scientist Do
    • Zippia Careers
    • Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
    • Forensic Scientist
    • Forensic Scientist Salary

    Updated June 25, 2024

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    Forensic Scientist Salary (July 2024) - Zippia (2024)

    FAQs

    Forensic Scientist Salary (July 2024) - Zippia? ›

    The average forensic scientist salary in the United States is $71,351. Forensic scientist salaries typically range between $45,000 and $112,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for forensic scientists is $34.3 per hour. Forensic scientist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience.

    What is the highest paying salary for a forensic scientist? ›

    $100,000. Forensic medical examiners are typically the highest-paid forensic jobs, making about $100,000 a year. However, rates vary from $70,000 a year to $200,000 or more.

    Do forensic scientists make a lot of money? ›

    As of Jun 30, 2024, the average annual pay for a Forensic Scientist in California is $75,768 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $36.43 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,457/week or $6,314/month.

    What is the current US median yearly salary for forensic scientist? ›

    How Much Do Forensic Scientist Jobs Pay per Year? $57,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $93,000 is the 75th percentile.

    What state pays forensic scientists the most? ›

    Forensic scientist salaries typically range between $45,000 and $112,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for forensic scientists is $34.3 per hour. Forensic scientist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Forensic scientists earn the highest average salary in Alaska.

    Are forensic scientists in high demand? ›

    Job Outlook

    Employment of forensic science technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 2,600 openings for forensic science technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

    Can you make six figures as a forensic scientist? ›

    Factors That Affect Salary

    Those in San Jose, California, can earn up to $106,600 annually. Forensic archaeologists have an average salary of $61,220, while forensic psychologists average around $73,000.

    What is a good yearly salary? ›

    Average Salary in California
    Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
    Top Earners$95,650$7,970
    75th Percentile$78,376$6,531
    Average$62,007$5,167
    25th Percentile$45,638$3,803

    Is a forensic science career worth it? ›

    Working as a forensic scientist can offer you a high pay rate with diverse job opportunities. A forensic scientist earns an average salary of $61,316 per year . The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates the career outlook for a forensic scientist to grow by 16% by 2030.

    Do forensic scientists receive bonus pay? ›

    The average Forensic Scientist in the US makes $71,591. The average bonus for a Forensic Scientist is $1 which represents 0% of their salary, with 5% of people reporting that they receive a bonus each year.

    Do forensic scientists go to crime scenes? ›

    Unlike crime scene investigators, forensic scientists do not visit the crime scene. Instead, they work in a lab environment, examining and analyzing evidence provided by investigators to help law enforcement agencies pursue justice.

    What are the pros and cons of being a forensic scientist? ›

    The pros of being a forensic scientist include a unique and interesting field that pays well, while the cons include very stressful working conditions and that you may be exposed to disturbing images.

    What type of forensic scientists make the most money? ›

    Top 5 Highest Paying Forensic Science Careers
    1. Forensic Medical Examiner. Perhaps the highest paying position in the field of forensic science is forensic medical examiner. ...
    2. Forensic Engineer. ...
    3. Forensic Accountant. ...
    4. Crime Scene Investigator. ...
    5. Crime Laboratory Analyst.

    How many hours do forensic scientists work? ›

    Most scientists in forensic laboratories work 40 hours per week. Others work in the field, some may be "on call," and their work hours may vary. Every branch of forensic science offers opportunity for personal growth, career advancement, and increased financial compensation.

    What is the highest salary for a forensic person? ›

    Forensics Jobs by Salary
    Job TitleRangeAverage
    Job Title:Forensic ScientistRange:₹51k - ₹1mAverage:₹400,000
    Cyber Security AnalystRange:₹385k - ₹2mAverage:₹1,100,000
    Forensic AnalystRange:₹397k - ₹502kAverage:₹475,000
    Forensic PsychologistRange:₹366k - ₹983kAverage:₹450,000
    3 more rows
    Jun 7, 2024

    How much do forensic scientists make working for the FBI? ›

    Fbi Forensic Scientist Salary
    Annual SalaryHourly Wage
    Top Earners$111,500$54
    75th Percentile$93,000$45
    Average$79,408$38
    25th Percentile$57,500$28

    What is the highest salary in forensic department? ›

    Forensics Jobs by Salary
    Job TitleRangeAverage
    Job Title:Forensic ScientistRange:₹51k - ₹1mAverage:₹400,000
    Cyber Security AnalystRange:₹385k - ₹2mAverage:₹1,100,000
    Forensic AnalystRange:₹397k - ₹502kAverage:₹475,000
    Forensic PsychologistRange:₹366k - ₹983kAverage:₹450,000
    3 more rows
    Jun 7, 2024

    What is the highest degree in forensic science? ›

    Earning a PhD is an option for forensic science professionals who wish to seek promotion to advanced leadership positions, teach at the college level, or go into research. A doctorate degree in forensic science can typically be completed through four to five years of study.

    What is the highest paying job? ›

    Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA (Inc Salaries)
    1. Chief Executive Officer. The company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for guiding the company towards success and growth. ...
    2. Physician/ Doctor. ...
    3. Psychiatrist. ...
    4. Airline Pilot. ...
    5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. ...
    6. Orthodontist. ...
    7. Lawyer. ...
    8. Architectural and Engineering Manager.

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