Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Mississippi make a median of $52,850 a year, or about $25.41 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $59,449 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $53K actually covers in Mississippi, month by month
About forensic science technicians
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for forensic science technicians in Mississippi runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (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, Mississippi
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Forensic Science Technicians salary by metro in Mississippi
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $63K | +19% | 80 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,491/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $53K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Mississippi pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Mississippi?
The median is $52,850 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,820, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $84,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,502/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 30.8% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $59,449 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.