How much does a Forensic Scientist make?
Experience
- All years of Experience
- 0-1 Years
- 1-3 Years
- 4-6 Years
- 7-9 Years
- 10-14 Years
- 15+ Years
Industry
- All industries
- Legal
- Aerospace & Defense
- Agriculture
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
- Management & Consulting
- Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services
- Personal Consumer Services
- Education
- Financial Services
- Government & Public Administration
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Media & Communication
- Nonprofit & NGO
- Energy, Mining & Utilities
- Real Estate
- Restaurants & Food Service
- Retail & Wholesale
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics
- Hotels & Travel Accommodation
- Human Resources & Staffing
$78K
/yrThe estimated total pay for a Forensic Scientist is $77,870 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $73,031 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $4,839 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $61K-$100K/yr?
Top Paying Companies
For a Forensic Scientist in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Forensic Scientist in United States. Employers include State of Illinois, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and PAE.
Top Paying Companies
For Forensic Scientist in United States
| 1 | State of Illinois | $77,992 | |
| 2 | Arkansas State Crime Laboratory | $77,863 | |
| 3 | PAE | $75,029 | |
| 4 | Department of Forensic Sciences(WA) | $71,368 | |
| 5 | NMS Labs | $69,206 | |
| 6 | Texas Department of Public Safety | $68,450 | |
| 7 | Illinois State Police | $68,018 | |
| 8 | City of Phoenix | $67,716 | |
| 9 | Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences | $67,361 | |
| 10 | Virginia Department of Forensic Science | $67,325 |
What are total pay estimates for a Forensic Scientist at different companies?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$31
/ hr
$68,450
/ yr
$67,361
/ yr$29
/ hr
$31
/ hr
$67,325
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$60,295
/ yr
$71,368
/ yr
$77,992
/ yr
$67,716
/ yr
$70,268
/ yr
$74,351
/ yr
$70,710
/ yrForensic Scientist Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Forensic Scientist in United States
The top 4 paying industries for a Forensic Scientist in United States are Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $75,029, Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $67,867, Healthcare with a median total pay of $65,897 and Management & Consulting with a median total pay of $57,231.
- Government & Public AdministrationGovernment & Public Administration$67,867
0% Lower than other industries
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Research & Science?
Research and science jobs offer pay well above the national average. Increased demand for STEM workers is increasing salaries in research and science. Jobs in these fields, however, often require higher education at the graduate level and/or specialized training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialized jobs, there are also many employers who hire STEM workers for their general data and technology skills.
Recent Salaries Shared
For forensic scientist
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
United States of America
| 7-9 years
/yr
$105K | $144K
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
$98K | $16K
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| <1 year
/hr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/hr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
$103K | $115K
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted 2 days ago
United States of America
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted 3 days ago
Forensic Scientist pay FAQ
The average salary for a Forensic Scientist is $77,870 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 465 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Forensic Scientist employees in United States.
The highest salary for a Forensic Scientist in United States is $100,013 per year.
The lowest salary for a Forensic Scientist in United States is $60,833 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Forensic Scientist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Forensic Scientist.