Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH make a median of $79,320 a year, or about $38.14 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $73,261 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 56.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $79K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About forensic science technicians
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Forensic science technicians pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 58.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $82K | $73K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $87K | $87K |
| New Haven | $98K | $94K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $82K | $86K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Forensic Science Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Forensic Science Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $125K | +73% | 370 |
| California | $102K | +42% | 2,800 |
| Connecticut | $86K | +19% | 120 |
| Colorado | $84K | +17% | 510 |
| Montana | $82K | +14% | 60 |
| Maryland | $82K | +14% | 460 |
| New York | $82K | +13% | 1,140 |
| Washington | $81K | +13% | 390 |
| Nevada | $81K | +13% | 360 |
| Oregon | $81K | +12% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +10% | 290 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +7% | 140 |
| Vermont | $74K | +3% | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $72K | +0% | 310 |
| Idaho | $71K | -1% | 160 |
| North Dakota | $71K | -1% | 40 |
| Maine | $71K | -2% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $71K | -2% | 300 |
| Virginia | $69K | -4% | 770 |
| Iowa | $67K | -7% | 130 |
| Utah | $67K | -7% | 220 |
| Indiana | $67K | -8% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $66K | -8% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $66K | -9% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $66K | -9% | 200 |
| Florida | $64K | -11% | 1,920 |
| Georgia | $64K | -12% | 550 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -12% | 110 |
| Arizona | $63K | -12% | 900 |
| New Jersey | $63K | -12% | 60 |
| Missouri | $63K | -13% | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | $62K | -15% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -15% | 60 |
| Texas | $60K | -17% | 1,900 |
| Alabama | $60K | -17% | 160 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -18% | 520 |
| Mississippi | $53K | -27% | 140 |
| Wyoming | $52K | -28% | 90 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -28% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -28% | 30 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -38% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track forensic science technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 58.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,871/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forensic science technician a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $79,320 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,520, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $132,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,019/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 58.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a forensic science technicians salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forensic science technicians salary is worth about $73,261 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forensic science technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.