Forensic Science Technicians Salary
Forensic Science Technicians in Tucson, AZ make a median of $61,380 a year, or about $29.51 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.9), that's roughly $63,344 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,402/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Tucson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tucson’s Regional Price Parity (96.9). 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 Tucson
Pay for forensic science technicians in Tucson runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,402/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.9) 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 Tucson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $65K | $63K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $104K | $92K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $87K | , |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $110K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tucson, AZ
Entry-level forensic science technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $57K 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 Tucson numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a forensic science technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tucson?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,402/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Tucson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forensic science technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,516/month. At HUD’s $1,402/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Tucson?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $61K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Tucson compare to the national average for forensic science technicians?
Tucson pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do forensic science technicians make in Tucson, AZ?
The median is $61,380 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,930, and experienced forensic science technicians can clear $98,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Tucson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,152/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,402/month, which eats 33.8% 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 Tucson?
Tucson has a Regional Price Parity of 96.9 (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 $63,344 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.