Life, Physical & Social Science
Forensic Science Technicians
Also called: Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Analyst (CSA), Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech), Criminalist
US median pay
$72,060
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+13.3%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
2,800
20,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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 they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Law and Government4.5/5
- Public Safety and Security4.2/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-secondary certificate36%
- High school diploma29%
- Post-baccalaureate certificate17%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.