Forensic Science Technicians pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,150 or more. The middle half of forensic science technicians in Los Angeles earn between $80,810 and $134,420.
- $63K10th
- $81K25th
- $104KMedian
- $134K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $107,010 | $8,918 | $51.45 |
| Median | $104,410 | $8,701 | $50.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,810 | $6,734 | $38.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $134,420 | $11,202 | $64.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Forensic Science Technicians pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Forensic science technicians in Los Angeles earn about the same as the California average ($104,960) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($79,200). At the median the gap is +45% against the U.S. median of $72,060.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $107,010 | $104,410 | $62,890 | $142,150 | 1,170 |
| California | $104,960 | $102,100 | $64,650 | $148,090 | 2,800 |
| United States | $79,200 | $72,060 | $48,250 | $117,250 | 19,120 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Forensic Science Technicians salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $107,010, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $78,252 a year, or $6,521 a month and $3,010 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for forensic science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $107,010 buys what about $94,227 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Forensic Science Technicians salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 3rd of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($132,690).
- San Jose$132,690
- San Francisco$127,560
- Los Angeles$107,010
- Sacramento$105,420
- Oxnard$104,680
- San Diego$104,440
- Fresno$90,100
- Riverside$87,970
- Stockton$80,580
- Bakersfield$77,390
Highest-paying cities for forensic science technicians
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($132,690).
- San Jose, CA$132,690
- San Francisco, CA$127,560
- Los Angeles, CA$107,010
- Chicago, IL$105,710
- Sacramento, CA$105,420
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Forensic Science Technicians salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do forensic science technicians make an hour in Los Angeles?
$51.45 an hour on average, and $50.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forensic science technicians salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forensic science technicians take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $78,252 a year ($6,521 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $107,010. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do forensic science technicians earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4092; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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