Ranked list · 29 careers
29 Forensic Science Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)
Forensic Odontologist tops this list at $170,950 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +5.7% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 29 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 29From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $76,210BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 29 of 29BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 499,500Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers that apply science to legal questions: crime scene and lab analysts, DNA and toxicology specialists, digital forensics examiners and medicolegal investigators. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Careers that apply science to legal questions: crime scene and lab analysts, DNA and toxicology specialists, digital forensics examiners and medicolegal investigators. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 29 forensic science jobs
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
1. Forensic Odontologist
Specialty within dentist
- Median pay
- $170,950median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Doctorate
A dentist who uses dental records and teeth to identify human remains, assess bite injuries and estimate age for medical examiners and courts.
- 2
2. Forensic Engineer
Specialty within mechanical engineer
- Median pay
- $104,110median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +11.2%
- Openings / yr
- 17,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Investigates failures of machines, products, structures and vehicles to find the cause, usually for insurers, attorneys and courts.
- 3
3. Coroner
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $80,730median a year
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings / yr
- 32,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibi…
- 4
4. Fire Inspector and Investigator
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $75,920median a year
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Certificate
Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
- 5
5. Bloodstain Pattern Analyst
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Studies the size, shape and distribution of bloodstains at scenes and on evidence to reconstruct what happened during a violent event.
- 6
6. Firearms and Toolmark Examiner
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Test-fires guns and compares bullets, cartridge cases and tool marks to determine whether they came from a particular weapon or tool.
- 7
7. Forensic DNA Analyst
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Develops DNA profiles from crime scene evidence, compares them to known samples and databases, and reports the results to investigators and courts.
- 8
8. Forensic Document Examiner
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Examines handwriting, signatures, ink, paper and printing to determine whether documents are genuine, altered or forged.
- 9
9. Forensic Science Technician
Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Median pay
- $72,060median a year
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations.
- 10
10. Forensic Toxicologist
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Tests blood, urine and tissue for drugs, alcohol and poisons, then explains the results to medical examiners, police and courts.
- 11
11. Forensic Video Analyst
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Recovers, clarifies and analyzes surveillance, body camera and phone video so it can be used reliably as evidence.
- 12
12. Latent Print Examiner
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Develops and compares fingerprints, palm prints and footprints left at crime scenes to identify or exclude people.
- 13
13. Wildlife Forensic Scientist
Specialty within forensic science technician
- Median pay
- $72,060median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +13.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Analyzes evidence from wildlife crimes, such as poaching and illegal trade in ivory, furs and protected species, to identify animals and support prosecutions.
- 14
14. Pathologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $312,400median a year
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids.
- 15
15. Veterinary Pathologist
Specialty within veterinarian
- Median pay
- $130,100median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.4%
- Openings / yr
- 3,100
- Education
- Doctorate
A board-certified veterinarian who diagnoses disease by examining tissues, cells and body fluids, for diagnostic labs, drug companies, zoos and wildlife agencies.
- 16
16. Digital Forensics Analyst
Computer and Mathematical
- Median pay
- $116,580median a year
- Growth
- +5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 27,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Conduct investigations on computer-based crimes establishing documentary or physical evidence, such as digital media and logs associated with cyber intrusion incidents.
- 17
17. Incident Responder
Specialty within digital forensics analyst
- Median pay
- $116,580median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 27,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads the response when an organization is hacked: containing the attack, investigating what happened and helping systems recover.
- 18
18. Malware Analyst
Specialty within digital forensics analyst
- Median pay
- $116,580median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 27,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Takes apart malicious software to learn exactly what it does, how to detect it and how to stop it, using disassemblers and sandboxes.
- 19
19. Forensic Psychologist
Specialty within clinical psychologist
- Median pay
- $100,580median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +11.7%
- Openings / yr
- 4,100
- Education
- Doctorate
A licensed psychologist who applies psychological assessment and research to legal questions in courts, prisons, and law enforcement.
- 20
20. Forensic Nurse
Specialty within registered nurse
- Median pay
- $97,550median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 180,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
A registered nurse who cares for victims of violence and collects medical evidence that can be used in legal cases.
- 21
21. ATF Special Agent
Specialty within detective and criminal investigator
- Median pay
- $93,790median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +0.2%
- Openings / yr
- 7,800
- Education
- High school
Investigates violent crime involving firearms, explosives, arson and bombings, plus illegal firearms trafficking and tobacco diversion.
- 22
22. Police Identification and Records Officer
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $93,790median a year
- Growth
- +0.2%
- Openings / yr
- 7,800
- Education
- High school
Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.
- 23
23. Aircraft Accident Investigator
Specialty within aviation inspector
- Median pay
- $92,100median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Examines aircraft crash sites, wreckage, recorders and records to determine why an accident happened and recommend changes that prevent the next one.
- 24
24. Accident Reconstructionist
Specialty within police officer
- Median pay
- $76,210median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 51,500
- Education
- High school
Analyzes serious traffic crashes using physics, scene evidence and vehicle data to determine speeds, positions and causes.
- 25
25. Bomb Technician
Specialty within police officer
- Median pay
- $76,210median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 51,500
- Education
- High school
A police officer or firefighter trained to identify, render safe and dispose of explosive devices, and to investigate bombings.
- 26
26. Fire Marshal
Specialty within fire inspector and investigator
- Median pay
- $75,920median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Certificate
Leads fire prevention for a city, county or state: enforcing fire codes, reviewing building plans and directing fire cause investigations.
- 27
27. Forensic Genealogist
Specialty within archivist
- Median pay
- $64,550median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Researches family trees and DNA matches for legal purposes, such as finding missing heirs, identifying unknown remains and helping solve cold cases.
- 28
28. Pathologists' Assistant
Specialty within medical and clinical laboratory technologist
- Median pay
- $62,930median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.7%
- Openings / yr
- 20,800
- Education
- Master's
Examines and dissects surgical specimens and performs autopsies under a pathologist's direction so diseases can be diagnosed.
- 29
29. Crime Scene Cleaner
Specialty within hazardous materials removal worker
- Median pay
- $49,450median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +1.5%
- Openings / yr
- 4,300
- Education
- High school
Cleans and decontaminates homes and businesses after deaths, crimes, accidents and hoarding situations, removing blood and biohazards safely.
Questions
Forensic Science Jobs: FAQ
What is the top career on the forensic science jobs list?
Forensic Odontologist leads the list with a median wage of $170,950 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +5.7% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is doctorate.
How was this list put together?
Careers that apply science to legal questions: crime scene and lab analysts, DNA and toxicology specialists, digital forensics examiners and medicolegal investigators. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers that apply science to legal questions: crime scene and lab analysts, DNA and toxicology specialists, digital forensics examiners and medicolegal investigators. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do forensic science jobs pay?
Across the 29 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $76,210 a year, from $49,450 at the bottom to $312,400 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
7 of the 29 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).