Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Fayetteville, NC make a median of $49,670 a year, or about $23.88 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.98), which stretches that salary to about $54,001 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,251/month, about 36.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Fayetteville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fayetteville’s Regional Price Parity (91.98). 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 Fayetteville
Pay for forensic science technicians in Fayetteville runs about 31% below the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,251/month, which is 37.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.98 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for forensic science technicianss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Fayetteville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $59K | $61K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $61K | $66K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $63K | $64K |
| Asheville | $51K | $53K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fayetteville, NC
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $14K 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 Fayetteville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fayetteville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 37.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,251/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Fayetteville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,847/month. At HUD’s $1,251/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Fayetteville?
Local pay runs 31% below the national median — $50K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Fayetteville compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Fayetteville pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.98), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Fayetteville, NC?
The median is $49,670 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,450, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $61,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Fayetteville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,309/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,251/month, which eats 37.8% 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 Fayetteville?
Fayetteville has a Regional Price Parity of 91.98 (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 $54,001 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.