Salary
$56,320
Job Growth
5/5
Competition
Average
Education
Associates
Overview: What does a Forensic Science Technician do?
Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or substances such as fiber, hair, tissue, or body fluids to determine significance to the investigation. They also prepare reports to document their findings and may provide expert opinion to investigators. When cases come to trial, technicians often provide testimony, as expert witnesses, on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the crime scene.
Resources to become a Forensic Science Technician
Take any of these online courses for FREE
RECOMMENDED: Introduction to Forensic Science
Price: Free
Data Science Specialization
Price: Free
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
Price: Free
| Advancement Opportunities: 88% of Average This calculation shows your opportunity for increases in earnings over time. It shows the relative strength of different careers as compared to each other |
| Average Starting Median income: $56,320 |
| Return on Educational Investment: 94% of Average Shows the relative return on investment of an education beyond high school. The calculation uses potential earning levels over time adjusted for the cost and the time of additional education. |
| Job Growth: 5/5 |
| Benefits: Yes |
| All scores range from 1-100. Higher scores are better with the exception of stress. |
| Bragging rights: 60/100 Based on prestige and social approval, fame and public recognition, high income, highly educated, clean versus “dirty” industry, and level of people you deal with. |
| Interesting Job: 53/100 Based on exciting subject or environment, variety of activities, fun interaction with people, creating versus completing, and learning interesting things. |
| Personal Freedom: 33/100 Based on controlling your work, not closely managed, choosing your assignments, tolerable rules and regulations, creative freedom, and setting your own hours. |
| Stress: 48/100 Based on Intense responsibility (life/death), continuous rejection, dealing with people’s problems, lack of control, quota or sales pressure, and work volume/time pressure. |
| Years to make $1,000,000 - 21 Years |
| Years to make $2,000,000 - 34 Years |
| Years to make $3,000,000 - 45 Years |
