Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Florida make a median of $64,140 a year, or about $30.84 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $65,064 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 37.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Florida?
About forensic science technicians
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for forensic science technicians in Florida runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for forensic science technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Forensic Science Technicians salary by metro in Florida
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $78K | +21% | 490 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $76K | +19% | 30 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $68K | +6% | 60 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $65K | +2% | 380 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $63K | -2% | 70 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $62K | -3% | 60 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $61K | -5% | 250 |
| Jacksonville | $59K | -8% | 140 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $56K | -13% | 50 |
| Tallahassee | $56K | -13% | 120 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $51K | -20% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,657/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $64K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Florida pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Florida?
The median is $64,140 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,280, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $93,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,459/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 37.2% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $65,064 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.