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Forensic scientist salary in Florida

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,140median pay per year in Florida, or $30.84 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,280lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,01025th percentile
  3. $64,140median
  4. $80,60075th percentile
  5. $93,870top 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 Florida was $64,140 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $7,920 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in FL
1,920[4]
Rank by median pay
26 of 41[5]
Compared with US median
−11.0%[6]

How much do forensic scientists make in Florida?

Half of forensic scientists in Florida earned more than $64,140 a year, and half earned less[1]. That is $30.84 an hour[1]. The mean was higher, at $67,390 a year[7]. The median across all jobs in the state was $47,880[8], so forensic scientists earned $16,260 more[9].

Across the US, the median for forensic scientists was $72,060[3]. Florida was 11.0% lower[6] and ranked 26th among the 41 states with a published median[5]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,280, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $93,870[2]. The middle half fell between $52,010 and $80,600[2].

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area had the highest metro median at $77,820[10]. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater was at $65,230 and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford at $60,740[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

Florida vs US pay

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

FLUS
Median per year$64,140[1]$72,060[3]
Median per hour$30.84[1]$34.65[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$44,280[2]$48,250[13]
Top 10% earn more than$93,870[2]$117,250[13]
Jobs1,920[4]19,120[3]

Pay by metro area in Florida

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

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL[11]$77,820490
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$65,230380
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$60,740250
Jacksonville, FL$59,020140
Tallahassee, FL$55,620120
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL$63,15070
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL$67,75060
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL$62,27060

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[14]$63,600550
Alabama$59,560160

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 Florida?
The median was $64,140 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $67,390[7].
How much does a forensic scientist make an hour in Florida?
The median was $30.84 an hour[1]. The 25th percentile was $25.01 an hour and the 75th was $38.75[17].
Which city in Florida pays forensic scientists the most?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $77,820 a year[10]. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater was at $65,230[11].
Is Florida a good state for forensic scientists?
Florida ranked 26th of 41 states for median pay[5]. Its median was 11.0% lower than the US median[6]. Georgia was at $63,600 and Alabama at $59,560[14].
What do you need to become a forensic scientist in Florida?
This is a US figure, not a Florida one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Forensic Science Technicians in Florida was $64,140 per year and $30.84 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 Florida: 10th percentile $44,280, 25th percentile $52,010, 75th percentile $80,600, 90th percentile $93,870. 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 1,920 people worked as Forensic Science Technicians in Florida (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Florida had the 26th 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 Florida ($64,140) was $7,920 (11.0%) lower than the US median ($72,060). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Forensic Science Technicians in Florida was $67,390 per year and $32.40 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Florida was $47,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in Florida was $16,260 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 11 metro areas in or partly in Florida with a published median for Forensic Science Technicians, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL had the highest median annual wage, $77,820. 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 Florida (highest first): Georgia $63,600; Alabama $59,560. 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 Florida: 10th percentile $21.29, 25th percentile $25.01, 75th percentile $38.75, 90th percentile $45.13. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Florida. 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.