Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Topeka, KS make a median of $86,670 a year, or about $41.67 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.82), which stretches that salary to about $97,579 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,057/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $87K get you in Topeka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Topeka’s Regional Price Parity (88.82). 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 Topeka
Topeka sits well above the national pay line for forensic science technicians, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,057/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.82 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Topeka 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 Topeka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $63K | $71K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $87K | , |
| St. Louis | $63K | $66K |
| Lincoln | $62K | $67K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Topeka, KS
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $51K 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 Topeka numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Topeka?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,057/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for forensic science technicians in Topeka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,605/month. At HUD’s $1,057/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is forensic science technician a high-paying job in Topeka?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $87K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Topeka compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Topeka pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Topeka, KS?
The median is $86,670 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,090, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $110,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Topeka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,423/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,057/month, which eats 19.5% 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 Topeka?
Topeka has a Regional Price Parity of 88.82 (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 $97,579 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.