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Science19-4092.00Specialization

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.

$64,940
Median Pay
6 months to 2 years
Training
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AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 4/6: growing job demand means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟡AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

39% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Growing+2

+13% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 17/25

Total Score4/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09
View full methodology →

Key Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
  • Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

Post-secondary certificate

Time to Job Ready

1-3 years

Based on Job Zone 3. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

Forensic analysis softwareDNA analysis systemsDigital imaging softwareDatabase systems (CODIS, AFIS)Microsoft OfficeLaboratory information systems

Key Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningFlexibility of ClosureNear VisionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInformation Ordering

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Find jobs and training programs for forensic science technicians- Median salary: $65K/year

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Compensation Details

$41,410
10th Percentile
$64,940
Median
$107,490
90th Percentile

Based on 17,520 employed workers

Also Known As

BallisticianBallistics Technician (Ballistics Tech)Biometric Fingerprint Technician (Biometric Fingerprint Tech)Biometric Fingerprinting Technician (Biometric Fingerprinting Tech)BiometricianBlood Splatter AnalystComputer Forensics Technician (Computer Forensics Tech)Crime AnalystCrime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst)Crime Lab Technician (Crime Laboratory Technician)

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 19-4092.00