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Forensic scientist salary in California

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$102,100median pay per year in California, or $49.09 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $64,650lowest 10% earn less
  2. $80,81025th percentile
  3. $102,100median
  4. $132,81075th percentile
  5. $148,090top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $72,060[3]

The median pay for forensic scientists in California was $102,100 a year in May 2025[1]. That put California 2nd highest among states with a published median[5].

Jobs in CA
2,800[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 41[5]
Compared with US median
+41.7%[6]

How much do forensic scientists make in California?

Half of the forensic scientists in California earned more than $102,100 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $49.09 an hour[1]. The average was a little higher at $104,960[7].

Across the US, the median for this job was $72,060[3]. California's median was $30,040 (41.7%) higher[6]. For all jobs in California, the median was $58,240[8]. Forensic scientists earned $43,860 more than that middle figure[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,650, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $148,090[2]. Pay differs by area. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest metro median at $137,280[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the largest job count, with a median of $104,410[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for forensic scientists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$102,100[1]$72,060[3]
Median per hour$49.09[1]$34.65[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$64,650[2]$48,250[13]
Top 10% earn more than$148,090[2]$117,250[13]
Jobs2,800[4]19,120[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for forensic scientists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$104,4101,170
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$109,930330
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$82,320280
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$105,320220
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$101,780160
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$137,280140
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$102,81080
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$79,97070

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for forensic scientists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[14]$81,090360
Oregon$80,950110
Arizona$63,250900

Median pay for forensic scientists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for forensic scientists are projected to grow 13.3% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a forensic scientist make in California?
The median was $102,100 a year in May 2025, and the average was $104,960[1][7].
How much does a forensic scientist make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $49.09[1]. At the 10th percentile it was $31.08 an hour, and at the 90th percentile it was $71.20[17].
Which city in California pays forensic scientists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $137,280 a year[10].
Is California a good state for forensic scientists?
California had the 2nd highest median for this job out of 41 states with a published median[5]. Its median was $30,040 (41.7%) above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a forensic scientist in California?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a bachelor's degree with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Forensic Science Technicians in California was $102,100 per year and $49.09 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Forensic Science Technicians in California: 10th percentile $64,650, 25th percentile $80,810, 75th percentile $132,810, 90th percentile $148,090. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Forensic Science Technicians in the US as a whole was $72,060 per year and $34.65 per hour, with about 19,120 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,800 people worked as Forensic Science Technicians in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians out of the 41 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in California ($102,100) was $30,040 (41.7%) higher than the US median ($72,060). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Forensic Science Technicians in California was $104,960 per year and $50.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in California was $43,860 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Forensic Science Technicians, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $137,280. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Forensic Science Technicians in the US: 10th percentile $48,250, 25th percentile $57,830, 75th percentile $94,520, 90th percentile $117,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $81,090; Oregon $80,950; Arizona $63,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Forensic Science Technicians is projected to grow 13.3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Forensic Science Technicians: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Forensic Science Technicians in California: 10th percentile $31.08, 25th percentile $38.85, 75th percentile $63.85, 90th percentile $71.20. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.