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.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Biology(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD

$153,622

Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)University of San Diego, CA

$143,943

Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Curry College, MA

$121,483

Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)Santa Rosa Junior College, CA

$111,649

Security Science and Technology(masters)Champlain College, VT

$110,892

Chemistry(doctoral)University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI

$110,158

Chemistry(doctoral)University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI

$108,840

Chemistry(doctoral)University of California-Berkeley, CA

$108,154

Chemistry(doctoral)North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC

$106,676

Biology(doctoral)Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ

$106,354

Biology(doctoral)Rutgers University-Newark, NJ

$106,354

Chemistry(doctoral)University of Delaware, DE

$103,167

Criminal Justice and Corrections(postbacc-cert)University of Louisville, KY

$102,190

Security Science and Technology(masters)University of Maryland Global Campus, MD

$101,880

Chemistry(doctoral)University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL

$101,242

Chemistry(doctoral)The University of Texas at Austin, TX

$100,906

Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)University of Chicago, IL

$100,258

Security Science and Technology(masters)University of San Diego, CA

$97,944

Biology(doctoral)Johns Hopkins University, MD

$96,695

Chemistry(doctoral)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

$96,201

Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Lewis University, IL

$96,146

Security Science and Technology(masters)Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, FL

$94,550

Security Science and Technology(masters)Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, AZ

$94,550

Security Science and Technology(masters)Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, FL

$94,550

Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)San Bernardino Valley College, CA

$94,285