Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA make a median of $71,160 a year, or about $34.21 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $77,601 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines
Forensic science technicians pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $113K | $109K |
| St. Louis | $63K | $66K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $74K | $76K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $77K | $73K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $64K 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,158/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $71,160 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,960, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $100,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,568/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 28.9% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $77,601 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.