Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Lansing-East Lansing, MI make a median of $88,670 a year, or about $42.63 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $93,347 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 22.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $89K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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 Lansing-East Lansing
Lansing-East Lansing sits well above the national pay line for forensic science technicians, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,268/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.99 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Lansing-East Lansing offers a genuinely strong financial position for forensic science technicianss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Lansing-East Lansing, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $87K | $91K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $78K | $81K |
| Columbus | $78K | $82K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $74K | $76K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $66K 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 Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lansing-East Lansing?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Lansing-East Lansing?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,853/month. At HUD’s $1,268/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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $89K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Lansing-East Lansing compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Lansing-East Lansing pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.99), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $88,670 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,550, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $113,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,583/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 22.7% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 $93,347 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.