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Forensic Science Technicians Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk

SOC 19-4092 · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · BLS OEWS May 2024

Median Annual Salary
$59,238
$28.48/hr
12.2% lower than the US national median ($67,434)
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated Apr 3, 2025
Source: BLS OEWS · Published Apr 2, 2025
Next refresh: May 15, 2026
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The median salary for Forensic Science Technicians in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk is $59,238 per year ($28.48/hr). This is 12.2% lower than the national median of $67,434.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

Wage Percentiles: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · BLS metro data
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salaryvs National
P50 MEDIAN$28.48$59,238-12.2%
P10$22.06$45,885--
P25$22.89$47,611--
P75$36.67$76,274--
P90$48.17$100,194--
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Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+12.8%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
3K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
21K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
9% from new growth91% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999300
12K$65,890
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999200
5K$71,180
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median forensic science technicians salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?

The median (P50) annual salary for Forensic Science Technicians in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk is approximately $59,238, based on BLS OEWS May 2024 data. This is 12.2% lower than the national median of $67,434. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.

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About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 15, 2026Verify on BLS.gov →

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