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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $67,440 in the US and is projected to grow 13% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.42 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £36,102 a year for Science, engineering and production technicians n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,401 to £46,772 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3119). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Forensic science technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
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Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
A day in the life
You start the morning at a crime scene taped off by the police, putting on protective gear before you step inside. You photograph the room from every angle, measure and sketch the layout, and carefully collect fibres, fingerprints and other traces, sealing each item so it stays uncontaminated. Mid-morning you return to the lab and treat surfaces with chemicals to bring out hidden fingerprints, then compare them with prints on record. After lunch you write a detailed report of your methods and findings, knowing every word may be challenged later. You also show a new technician how to lift a print cleanly. Later you prepare for a court hearing where you will explain your analysis to the judge. Keeping the chain of custody documented is strict and repetitive. The work can be emotionally hard, but knowing careful evidence can help bring the truth to light gives it real meaning.
In India: In India this work is mainly done in government forensic science laboratories, with scene visits often made by mobile forensic teams working alongside the police; most posts are filled through public service recruitment.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Forensic science technicians do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Forensic science technicians?
You start the morning at a crime scene taped off by the police, putting on protective gear before you step inside. You photograph the room from every angle, measure and sketch the layout, and carefully collect fibres, fingerprints and other traces, sealing each item so it stays uncontaminated. Mid-morning you return to the lab and treat surfaces with chemicals to bring out hidden fingerprints, then compare them with prints on record.
How much does Forensic science technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Forensic science technicians in the US is $67,440.
What is the job outlook for Forensic science technicians?
The role is projected to grow 13% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 20,700 workers.
How do I become forensic science technicians?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Forensic science technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Complex Problem Solving. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Forensic science technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Forensic science technicians a score of 0.42 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Forensic science technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.