Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Fort Wayne, IN make a median of $72,510 a year, or about $34.86 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $78,330 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 22.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Fort Wayne?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Wayne’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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 Fort Wayne
Forensic science technicians pay in Fort Wayne tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Fort Wayne, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $78K | $81K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $113K | $109K |
| Columbus | $78K | $82K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $89K | $93K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Wayne, IN
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $26K 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
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 Fort Wayne numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fort Wayne?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Fort Wayne?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,636/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Fort Wayne?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Fort Wayne compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Fort Wayne pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median is $72,510 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,600, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $86,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Fort Wayne?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,765/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 23.4% 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 Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $78,330 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.