Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Charleston, WV make a median of $63,920 a year, or about $30.73 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.72), which stretches that salary to about $72,047 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,036/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K get you in Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (88.72). 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 Charleston
Pay for forensic science technicians in Charleston runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,036/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Charleston can be a reasonable trade-off for forensic science technicianss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $62K | $60K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $82K | $78K |
| Columbus | $78K | $82K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $62K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $41K 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 Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,036/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,647/month. At HUD’s $1,036/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Charleston?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $64K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Charleston compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Charleston pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $63,920 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,120, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $84,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,248/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,036/month, which eats 24.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a forensic science technicians salary go in Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 88.72 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forensic science technicians salary is worth about $72,047 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.