The Average Salary of a Fingerprint Analyst

Fingerprint analysis is one area of expertise among forensic science technicians.

Fingerprint analysis to help solve crimes is one of the tasks performed by forensic science technicians, who also analyze other physical evidence, like hair and tissue samples, and may specialize in other fields such as ballistics or biochemistry.

Salaries

Forensic science technicians earn an average, or mean, annual salary of $55,070, according to a May 2009 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median salary is $51,480 per year, and salaries range from $32,420 or less for the lowest-earning 10 percent of workers in this occupation to $84,260 and up for the best-paid tenth. PayScale.com reported a salary range of $35,542 to $58,217 based on a survey of 19 forensic science technicians that was updated August 31, 2010.

Top Employers

PayScale.com figures show that forensic science technicians employed in law enforcement earn $38,639 to $56,911 per year, while those in business intelligence and private investigation make salaries between $37,439 and $55,011. According to the BLS, local and state governments employ the vast majority of forensic science technicians, with the 7,140 working for local government agencies earning an average annual salary of $54,880, while the 4,290 employed by state governments make an average of $53,070 per year.

Highest-Paying Regions

Massachusetts was the highest-paying state for forensic science technicians, the BLS says, with an average annual salary of $81,950. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including Arlington and Alexandria, was the best-paying city for this occupation, with an average annual salary of $78,430.

References

• Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009: Forensic Science Technicians
• Pay Scale: Crime Laboratory Analyst Salary, Average Salaries