Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Stockton-Lodi, CA make a median of $81,930 a year, or about $39.39 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.09), so that salary is closer to $77,962 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,742/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $82K get you in Stockton-Lodi?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Stockton-Lodi’s Regional Price Parity (105.09). 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 Stockton-Lodi
Stockton-Lodi 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 $1,742/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.09), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for forensic science technicians in metros near Stockton-Lodi, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $104K | $92K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $110K | $95K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $82K | $77K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $105K | $94K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Stockton-Lodi, CA
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $36K 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 Stockton-Lodi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Stockton-Lodi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,742/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Stockton-Lodi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,822/month. At HUD’s $1,742/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Stockton-Lodi?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $82K here vs. $72K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Stockton-Lodi compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Stockton-Lodi pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Stockton-Lodi, CA?
The median is $81,930 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,700, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $99,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Stockton-Lodi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,189/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,742/month, which eats 33.6% 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 Stockton-Lodi?
Stockton-Lodi has a Regional Price Parity of 105.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forensic science technicians salary is worth about $77,962 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.