Forensic Analysts

Median Salary: $51,500

Many forensic analysts across the nation share a handful of important professional traits. For example, dependability, cooperation, and self control can be crucial for success in the industry, especially when mixed with career training. Around 12,870 individuals were employed as forensic analysts nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's vital to cultivate these characteristics and receive solid training, particularly if you're ready to progress in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for forensic analysts in the U.S. was $51,500 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $24.80. Of course, income can vary with training and by location. Below, you'll find more data about forensic analysts, including wages and job density for metropolitan areas all over the nation.

Forensic analysts should be skilled in:

  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Near Vision
  • Information Ordering
  • Written Comprehension
  • Fluency of Ideas

Different individuals go into different careers; forensic analysts are typically:

  • Investigative
  • Realistic
  • Conventional

Working as a forensic analyst requires knowledge in subjects like:

  • Law and Government
  • Chemistry
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Public Safety and Security

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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of individuals employed as forensic analysts). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of forensic analysts in each city as compared to the national average.

Arizona
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Phoenix 520 $48,700 $23.40 $64,000 $30.80 196%
Arkansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Little Rock 120 $36,200 $17.40 $49,300 $23.70 252.5%
California
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Los Angeles (Area) 620 $69,100 $33.20 $90,700 $43.60 33.3%
Oakland 100 $72,100 $34.70 $92,400 $44.40 1%
Oxnard 60 NA NA NA NA 115.2%
Sacramento 170 $59,400 $28.50 $73,000 $35.10 97%
San Diego 100 $61,200 $29.40 $72,500 $34.90 -20.2%
San Francisco (Area) 100 $72,100 $34.70 $92,400 $44.40 1%
San Jose 50 $72,900 $35.00 $85,000 $40.90 -45.5%
Santa Rosa 40 $63,600 $30.60 $73,500 $35.30 156.6%
Colorado
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Denver 190 $55,400 $26.70 $66,700 $32.10 53.5%
District of Columbia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) 400 $70,300 $33.80 $94,000 $45.20 77.8%
Florida
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Miami (Area) 240 $55,400 $26.70 $68,600 $33.00 17.2%
Orlando 220 $41,300 $19.80 $50,500 $24.30 126.3%
Tampa 270 $47,700 $22.90 $56,900 $27.40 139.4%
Georgia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 150 $44,800 $21.50 $60,200 $28.90 -34.3%
Idaho
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boise City 40 $46,800 $22.50 $56,600 $27.20 52.5%
Illinois
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chicago (Area) 470 $62,400 $30.00 $84,800 $40.80 30.3%
Kansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Topeka 80 NA NA NA NA 681.8%
Louisiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baton Rouge 60 $46,700 $22.50 $58,400 $28.10 63.6%
Maryland
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore NA $51,600 $24.80 $68,700 $33.00 NA
Massachusetts
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) 40 NA NA NA NA -76.8%
Missouri
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
St. Louis 110 $57,000 $27.40 $76,500 $36.80 -12.1%
Nebraska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Omaha 50 $49,800 $24.00 $55,100 $26.50 2%
North Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charlotte 110 $42,700 $20.50 $59,600 $28.70 37.4%
Ohio
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Cincinnati 30 $47,100 $22.60 $58,000 $27.90 -67.7%
Oklahoma
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Oklahoma City 80 $56,600 $27.20 $67,500 $32.50 40.4%
Oregon
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Portland 150 $59,300 $28.50 $69,200 $33.30 53.5%
Pennsylvania
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Harrisburg 50 $52,900 $25.40 $61,700 $29.70 70.7%
Pittsburgh 90 $48,300 $23.20 $57,500 $27.70 -16.2%
Texas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Dallas (Area) 290 $47,200 $22.70 $59,500 $28.60 9.1%
Houston 330 $50,100 $24.10 $57,400 $27.60 31.3%
McAllen 50 $42,100 $20.20 $51,800 $24.90 123.2%
Utah
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Salt Lake City 90 $43,800 $21.10 $53,600 $25.80 53.5%
Virginia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Richmond 140 $49,100 $23.60 $70,100 $33.70 139.4%
Virginia Beach 90 $47,300 $22.70 $62,300 $29.90 18.2%
Wisconsin
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Madison 50 $40,800 $19.60 $52,700 $25.40 40.4%
Milwaukee 60 NA NA NA NA -29.3%