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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Same job title, wildly different paychecks. Here's why. The national median salary for Forensic Scientists in 2026 is $74,489, with entry-level positions averaging $53,632 and senior roles reaching $105,774. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $135,680, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Science within the broader Science & Research industry, Forensic Scientists typically hold Bachelor's in forensic sci. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is lab-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$82,560 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Forensic Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $135,680 — $82,560 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,120). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Forensic Scientists in 2026: $53,632 at entry (P10), $74,489 at midpoint, and $105,774 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $52,142 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $5,878 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $126,720 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $53,547. That $73,173 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Forensic Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $135,680 — $82,560 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,120). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Forensic Scientist is $53,632, while senior-level (P90) earners average $105,774. That $52,142 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Forensic Scientists average $53,632 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $53,632 | $74,489 | $105,774 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £28,943 | £40,198 | £57,081 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$41,195 | CA$57,215 | CA$81,245 |
| Australia | 13 | A$47,267 | A$65,649 | A$93,221 |
| Sweden | 24 | 294,535 kr | 409,077 kr | 580,889 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $64,731 | $89,904 | $127,664 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $62,554 | $86,880 | $123,370 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $62,208 | $86,400 | $122,688 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $57,600 | $80,000 | $113,600 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $56,909 | $79,040 | $112,237 |
| Washington | 8 | $55,814 | $77,520 | $110,078 |
| New York | 5 | $52,531 | $72,960 | $103,603 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $52,531 | $72,960 | $103,603 |
| Florida | 22 | $52,133 | $72,407 | $102,818 |
| Colorado | 11 | $51,233 | $71,156 | $101,042 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $51,149 | $71,040 | $100,877 |
| Nevada | 5 | $51,057 | $70,912 | $100,695 |
| Arizona | 12 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
| Oregon | 5 | $50,688 | $70,400 | $99,968 |
| Idaho | 3 | $50,534 | $70,187 | $99,665 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $50,135 | $69,632 | $98,877 |
| Utah | 4 | $49,997 | $69,440 | $98,605 |
| Virginia | 7 | $49,174 | $68,297 | $96,982 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $48,538 | $67,413 | $95,727 |
| Alaska | 1 | $48,384 | $67,200 | $95,424 |
| Illinois | 5 | $47,831 | $66,432 | $94,334 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $46,643 | $64,782 | $91,991 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $46,080 | $64,000 | $90,880 |
| Montana | 1 | $46,080 | $64,000 | $90,880 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $45,926 | $63,787 | $90,577 |
| Texas | 40 | $45,700 | $63,472 | $90,130 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $45,620 | $63,360 | $89,972 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $45,389 | $63,040 | $89,517 |
| Georgia | 6 | $45,235 | $62,827 | $89,214 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $45,158 | $62,720 | $89,062 |
| Kansas | 4 | $44,928 | $62,400 | $88,608 |
| Michigan | 6 | $44,774 | $62,187 | $88,305 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $44,237 | $61,440 | $87,245 |
| Maryland | 1 | $44,237 | $61,440 | $87,245 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $43,776 | $60,800 | $86,336 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $43,776 | $60,800 | $86,336 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $42,624 | $59,200 | $84,064 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $42,394 | $58,880 | $83,610 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $41,818 | $58,080 | $82,474 |
| Missouri | 4 | $41,818 | $58,080 | $82,474 |
| Alabama | 5 | $41,656 | $57,856 | $82,155 |
| Indiana | 3 | $41,011 | $56,960 | $80,883 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $41,011 | $56,960 | $80,883 |
| Iowa | 2 | $40,550 | $56,320 | $79,974 |
| Ohio | 6 | $40,474 | $56,213 | $79,823 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $38,707 | $53,760 | $76,339 |
Geography shapes Forensic Scientist pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $89,904 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($135,680 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $64,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $135,680 | 212 | $64,000 | $81,649 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $126,720 | 198 | $64,000 | $76,717 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $117,760 | 184 | $64,000 | $71,784 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $115,840 | 181 | $64,000 | $70,727 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $113,920 | 178 | $64,000 | $69,670 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $113,280 | 177 | $64,000 | $69,318 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $113,280 | 177 | $64,000 | $69,318 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $110,720 | 173 | $64,000 | $67,909 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $110,720 | 173 | $64,000 | $67,909 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $108,160 | 169 | $64,000 | $66,500 |
The $52,142 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Forensic Scientist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Forensic Scientists is $74,489 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $53,632, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $105,774.
The highest-paying city for Forensic Scientists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $135,680. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($135,680), Santa Clara ($126,720), Irvine ($117,760). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Forensic Scientist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $53,120. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Forensic Scientists (10th percentile) average $53,632 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $97,690. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Forensic Scientists average $105,774 nationally — $52,142 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Forensic Scientists can earn up to $192,666.
The top-paying states for Forensic Scientists are California ($89,904 median), Massachusetts ($86,880 median), Hawaii ($86,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Forensic Scientist involves Bachelor's in forensic sci. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically lab-based.
With a national median of $74,489 and representation across 288 metro areas, Forensic Scientist offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $52,142 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.