A registered nurse who cares for victims of violence and collects medical evidence that can be used in legal cases. BLS does not publish separate figures for registered nurses; it counts them within registered nurse (SOC 29-1141), whose median pay is $97,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 29-1141
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Forensic Nurse in four numbers
- Median pay
- $97,550a year, or $46.90/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $69KTop 10% $137K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.6%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 180,8003,465,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20253.5M
- Projected 20353.7M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 3.5M Projected 2035 3.7M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school0.8%
- Certificate22.5%
- Associate's19.4%
- Bachelor's55.9%
- Master's1.4%
Highest education held by registered nurses Segment Value High school 0.8% Certificate 22.5% Associate's 19.4% Bachelor's 55.9% Master's 1.4%
Also advertised as: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, SANE, Forensic Nurse Examiner, SANE-A, Forensic Nurse Investigator.
Pay
How much do Registered Nurses make?
Every forensic nurse in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$97,550
Middle half earn $80,330 to $112,350
- 10th
- $68,940
- 25th
- $80,330
- 75th
- $112,350
- 90th
- $137,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,940 |
| 25th | $80,330 |
| Median | $97,550 |
| 75th | $112,350 |
| 90th | $137,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $97,550
- Median hourly wage
- $46.90/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $101,420
- People employed
- 3,379,720
Versus all US occupations
At $97,550, Registered Nurses earn 91% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $46,570 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $137,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $68,940, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 70% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $140,270, and still leads at $126,689 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Registered Nurses the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $140,270 | $126,689 | 338,940 |
| 2Hawaii | $136,320 | $123,983 | 12,940 |
| 3Oregon | $129,010 | $124,815 | 39,730 |
| 4Washington | $124,200 | $116,061 | 69,260 |
| 5Alaska | $109,480 | $106,957 | 7,510 |
| 6New York | $109,440 | $101,408 | 205,810 |
| 7New Jersey | $106,500 | $97,882 | 92,680 |
| 8Massachusetts | $104,550 | $98,859 | 88,200 |
| 9Nevada | $103,670 | $103,692 | 27,070 |
| 10Connecticut | $102,740 | $99,160 | 40,110 |
Job outlook
Is Forensic Nurse a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | +5.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Registered Nurses to change 5.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 194,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 180,800 openings are projected each year, 5.2% of the 3,465,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Forensic Nurse
Forensic nurses are registered nurses, usually with several years of experience in emergency, women's health, or pediatric nursing. To work as a sexual assault nurse examiner, nurses complete SANE education that follows guidelines from the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), including classroom training and clinical preceptorship.
The IAFN's Forensic Nursing Certification Board offers the SANE-A credential for adult and adolescent patients and the SANE-P credential for pediatric patients, each requiring practice hours and an exam. Some nurses also earn graduate certificates or master's degrees in forensic nursing.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as registered nurses.
- Bachelor's Degree55.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate22.5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree19.4%
- Master's Degree1.4%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)0.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 55.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.5% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 19.4% |
| Master's Degree | 1.4% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Forensic Nurse do?
Forensic nurses combine nursing care with the collection and documentation of evidence. Many work as sexual assault nurse examiners, providing medical exams to survivors of sexual assault, treating injuries, offering medications to prevent infection and pregnancy, collecting evidence kits, and connecting patients with advocates.
Forensic nurses also examine victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and strangulation, photograph and document injuries, and maintain the chain of custody for evidence. They may testify in court as fact or expert witnesses. Others work in death investigation for medical examiner offices or in correctional health settings.
Day-to-day tasks
- Perform medical forensic exams for survivors of sexual assault
- Collect, package, and preserve evidence with a documented chain of custody
- Photograph and document injuries from violence
- Provide medications to prevent infection and pregnancy after assault
- Connect patients with advocates, counseling, and follow-up care
- Examine victims of domestic violence, strangulation, and abuse
- Testify in court about examination findings
- Train other clinicians and law enforcement on forensic care
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Forensic nurses work in hospital emergency departments, community sexual assault programs, child advocacy centers, medical examiner offices, and correctional facilities. Many SANE roles are on call around the clock, since exams happen soon after an assault. The work is emotionally heavy, and nurses spend time in court and with law enforcement.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Writing3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Active Learning3.5
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.1
- Coordination4.0
- Service Orientation4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Instructing3.3
- Time Management3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.1 |
| Coordination | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Time accounting software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Forensic Nurse?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code SIC) built on O*NET's Registered Nurse profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Forensic Nurse |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social5.7
- Investigative4.9
- Conventional4.8
- Realistic3.5
- Enterprising2.4
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Forensic Nurse
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with registered nurses highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Forensic Nurse$97,550
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Forensic Nurse | $97,550 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Forensic Nurse appears on
Questions
Forensic Nurse: frequently asked questions
How much do Registered Nurses make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for registered nurses. It counts them within registered nurse, whose median pay is $97,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $80,330 and $112,350, and the top 10% earn $137,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Forensic Nurse?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Registered Nurses, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.9% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Forensic Nurse a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 180,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Forensic Nurse do?
Forensic nurses combine nursing care with the collection and documentation of evidence. A typical task: perform medical forensic exams for survivors of sexual assault. Employers most often ask for Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Registered Nurses the most?
The highest state medians for Registered Nurses are California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Forensic Nurse?
O*NET scores Registered Nurses highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.