Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX make a median of $55,150 a year, or about $26.52 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $64,210 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,060/month, or 27.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $55K get you in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by McAllen-Edinburg-Mission’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
Pay for forensic science technicians in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,060/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $57K | $55K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $70K | $72K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $66K | $67K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $60K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $31K 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,060/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,370/month. At HUD’s $1,060/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $55K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does McAllen-Edinburg-Mission compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
The median is $55,150 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,500, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $70,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,060/month, which eats 27.4% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission?
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (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 $64,210 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.