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.
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Forensic analysts should be skilled in:
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Different individuals go into different careers; forensic analysts are typically:
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Working as a forensic analyst requires knowledge in subjects like:
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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.
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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 |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |