Forensic Technician Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Those who wish to become forensic technicians need to have a bachelor’s degree. Prospective employers also prefer those with a degree in forensic science. About thirty universities and colleges offer degrees in forensic science and approximately twenty colleges offer science courses with a focus on criminology or forensics. There are also several schools which offer bachelors’ degree courses specializing in areas of criminology, forensics, accounting and jurisprudence.
Training and Education
Expect to get a bachelor's degree for this occupation. The share of forensic technician with a bachelor's degree or higher is 46%. About 35% of workers got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 19% of employees.
Job Overview
Forensic technicians use the principals and theories of science to solve problems related to crime. They do this by collecting and analyzing physical evidence of the crime.
Job Requirements
No matter what the degree a forensic technician has, it is important that they receive proper training. Two years of training is usually required. Graduates who have considerable laboratory experience are also preferred.
Forensic technicians need to work under the supervision of experienced forensic professionals. They need to gain the experience that eventually enables them to handle important assignments single handedly.
Forensic technicians need to communicate about their findings both verbally and in writing, so they should have good writing skills. They also need to have a keen eye for detail, have the ability to interpret scientific results and have strong analytical thinking skills. Working with computers forms an integral part of their job.
Nature of Work
Forensic technicians execute tests on materials like glass, weapons, fiber, hair, fluids and tissues, and perform DNA tests to find the importance in the examination. They record all their findings in the investigations and they also keep note of the laboratory techniques used to do so. They are also required to be present at the criminal trials that they examine evidence for, store and testify their findings.
Forensic technicians usually work in laboratories. They generally work for eight hours a day. However, they sometimes have extended working hours depending on the tests they perform and the urgency of the case they are working on.
Area Job Conditions
Raleigh (North Carolina), Austin (Texas), and Richmond (Virginia) boast the most forensic technician for their size population. Oakland (California), Minneapolis (Minnesota), and Boston (Massachusetts) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Santa Ana (California), Oakland (California), and Santa Rosa (California). The lowest-paying areas are Austin (Texas), San Antonio (Texas), and Raleigh (North Carolina).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 19% of forensic technician work less than full time. Self-employment is the choice of 1% of workers.
Career Videos
Forensic Technician by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | $47,000 | 40 | +434% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $55,000 | 510 | +502% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $40,000 | 100 | +512% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | $77,000 | 100 | +109% |
| Oxnard | 60 | +329% | |
| Sacramento | $60,000 | 130 | +213% |
| San Diego | $66,000 | 110 | +75% |
| San Jose | $74,000 | 50 | +16% |
| Santa Ana | $75,000 | 230 | +229% |
| Santa Rosa | $67,000 | 40 | +400% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $57,000 | 180 | +200% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $85,000 | 290 | +148% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $56,000 | 110 | +230% |
| Orlando | $44,000 | 210 | +331% |
| Tampa | $49,000 | 290 | +428% |
| West Palm Beach | $55,000 | 80 | +224% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $51,000 | 140 | +26% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $47,000 | 40 | +227% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 400 | +121% | |
| Springfield | $71,000 | 60 | +1146% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $48,000 | 40 | +709% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $55,000 | 280 | +344% |
| Bethesda | $61,000 | 170 | +516% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | $58,000 | 40 | +335% |
| Warren | $58,000 | 30 | -42% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $53,000 | 120 | +146% |
| St Louis | $58,000 | 130 | +102% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $48,000 | 40 | +78% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $46,000 | 160 | +289% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $49,000 | 30 | -38% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $60,000 | 50 | +81% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $61,000 | 150 | +205% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $49,000 | 160 | +58% |
| Fort Worth | $53,000 | 110 | +165% |
| Houston | $50,000 | 310 | +144% |
| Mcallen | $40,000 | 30 | +180% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $42,000 | 90 | +209% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $53,000 | 80 | +120% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $56,000 | 70 | +4% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $44,000 | 50 | +212% |
| Milwaukee | $50,000 | 40 | +0% |