Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Iowa make a median of $67,060 a year, or about $32.24 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $75,467 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
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What $67K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
About forensic science technicians
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What this looks like in Iowa
Forensic science technicians pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Forensic Science Technicians salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $71K | +6% | 90 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,442/month. At HUD’s $1,064/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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Iowa pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Iowa?
The median is $67,060 a year, that works out to about $32 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 $67K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,347/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 24.5% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $75,467 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.