Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Missoula, MT make a median of $82,200 a year, or about $39.52 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.44), that's roughly $85,234 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,361/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Missoula?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Missoula’s Regional Price Parity (96.44). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Missoula
Missoula sits well above the national pay line for forensic science technicians, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,361/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Missoula, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $75K | $77K |
| Bismarck | $63K | $70K |
| Cheyenne | $68K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missoula, MT
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $37K 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 Missoula numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missoula?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 26.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,361/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Missoula?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,019/month. At HUD’s $1,361/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Missoula?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $82K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Missoula compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Missoula pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Missoula, MT?
The median is $82,200 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,980, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $104,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Missoula?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,206/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,361/month, which eats 26.1% 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 Missoula?
Missoula has a Regional Price Parity of 96.44 (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 $85,234 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.