How Much Money Does a Crime Lab Analyst Make?

Crime lab analysts, more technically called forensic science technicians, analyze physical evidence in criminal investigations. They gather, identify and classify different substances, including fiber, hair, tissue and more. Most crime lab analysts have government jobs, and salary depends a great deal on experience and level of responsibility. Crime lab analysts working in certain large metropolitan areas also earn high salaries.

General Range

Median starting salary for crime lab analysts in 2009 was about $42,000 annually, while analysts with 20 or more years of experience were making an average of about $54,000. In 2008, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 80 percent of crime lab analysts were earning between $31,000 and $80,000 a year. Narrowing it further, the middle 50 percent were making between $38,000 and $64,000, and about $50,000 on average.

Government Salaries

Most crime lab analysts work for local, county and state government, and are paid according to classification. Average salaries are between $41,000 to $53,000 annually. The federal government offers higher-paying opportunities, up to $90,000 a year.

Career Ladder

A typical career ladder in state or local government might involve working up from forensic science technician I to III, beginning at about $30,000 and eventually earning about $62,000. From there, a technician can advance to supervisor and make another $5,000 or so a year. Further experience can lead to a position as laboratory director, who organizes and manages all operations of the lab. The director's annual salary might range from about $68,000 to $77,000.

Location

Some metropolitan areas pay significantly higher on average. The Boston, Mass., metropolitan area, for instance, pays crime lab analysts about $76,000 as a median annual salary as of 2009, and the Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif., greater metropolitan areas offer between $70,000 and $75,000. In the Los Angeles area, a crime lab analyst can be making $80,000 with five years experience, and a crime lab director earns more than $100,000.

Education Considerations

Crime lab analysts must have a minimum of an associate degree in a science or laboratory procedures field, but most have a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology or forensic science. Many departments require a bachelor's degree, and chemistry or biology are the preferred majors. As more people become interested in the field and competition increases, a master's degree is increasingly important for advancement, particularly for those wanting to become a supervisor or director.

Resources

• Read an interview with a crime lab director