What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Forensic Science Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $72,060 a year — the middle 80% land between $48,250 and $117,250. About 19,120 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Forensic Science Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$72,060typical pay / year
19,120people in this work
$117,250+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record2
Reconstruct crime scenes
+Reconstruct the rear apartment scene from photos and notes: place measured object locations, blood drops and…
Reconstruct crime scenes
+Reconstruct the rear apartment scene from photos and notes: place measured object locations, blood drops and footprint vectors on the floorplan, produce a labeled scene overlay showing entry path and evidence positions, then export a high-resolution image for the investigator.
The tools that do the workComputer aided design and drafting CADDAdobe Photoshopjob descriptionsO*NET
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Examine and analyze blood stain patterns
+Examine the bloodstain photos, measure and log each pattern's size, shape and angle with the case number…
Examine and analyze blood stain patterns
+Examine the bloodstain photos, measure and log each pattern's size, shape and angle with the case number 2026-047, note substrate and suspected mechanism, flag any that need microscopy and send the annotated findings to Detective Ramos by Tuesday morning.
The tools that do the workAdobe Photoshopjob descriptionsO*NET
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Fixing2
Perform tests on weapons or substances
+Prepare and record chain-of-custody, run presumptive tests on the suspected substance and weapons fragments,…
Perform tests on weapons or substances
+Prepare and record chain-of-custody, run presumptive tests on the suspected substance and weapons fragments, enter reagent batch numbers and test results into the case file 2026-047, and alert Sergeant Liu if presumptive positives require confirmatory lab analysis before 5pm today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Operate and maintain laboratory equipment
+Perform calibration checks on the spectrometer and microscopic imaging system, log calibration certificates…
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment
+Perform calibration checks on the spectrometer and microscopic imaging system, log calibration certificates and maintenance actions under equipment ID SPECT-03, schedule preventive maintenance if any tolerance exceeds limits, and notify the lab manager before end of shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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Get approval1
Testify as expert witnesses in court
+Draft my expert witness report for case 2026-047 summarising sample preparation, testing methods, instrument…
Testify as expert witnesses in court
+Draft my expert witness report for case 2026-047 summarising sample preparation, testing methods, instrument calibration status, chain-of-custody, and conclude limits of opinion, then send the draft to Prosecutor Evans and the lab director for review by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Wear appropriate protective gear
+Put on nitrile gloves, eye protection, shoe covers and the lab coat listed on the evidence handling sheet,…
Wear appropriate protective gear
+Put on nitrile gloves, eye protection, shoe covers and the lab coat listed on the evidence handling sheet, inspect each item for contamination, sign the PPE log with time and badge number, and start the sample intake only once PPE is intact.
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Calibrate laboratory equipment
+Run the instrument warm-up and calibration routine from the equipment checklist, record pre- and…
Calibrate laboratory equipment
+Run the instrument warm-up and calibration routine from the equipment checklist, record pre- and post-calibration readings on the instrument log, upload the calibration file to the case folder, and notify the lead analyst if any value falls outside tolerance.
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Train new technicians in forensic techniques
+Train Ana and Marcus on forensic entry techniques this Wednesday: run through evidence intake,…
Train new technicians in forensic techniques
+Train Ana and Marcus on forensic entry techniques this Wednesday: run through evidence intake, chain-of-custody logging, sample labeling, PPE checks, calibrating the spectrometer and balance, then have them enter ten mock cases and correct errors with me present.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Review forensic reports for technical merit
+Review the attached forensic reports for technical merit: verify methods, confirm calibration logs and…
Review forensic reports for technical merit
+Review the attached forensic reports for technical merit: verify methods, confirm calibration logs and reagent lot numbers, flag unsupported conclusions, annotate needed rework, and return to Casey in biology with a clear list of issues by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Compare objects and impression marks
+Compare the shoe and tire impression images from cases 21-104 and 21-118: align scales, note matching ridge…
Compare objects and impression marks
+Compare the shoe and tire impression images from cases 21-104 and 21-118: align scales, note matching ridge patterns or cutouts, record measurements, photograph any discrepancies, and write a short comparison to include in each case file.
The tools that do the workAdobe Photoshopjob descriptionsO*NET
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Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.
+Inspect the recovered handgun for mechanical condition and serial restoration: document current function,…
Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.
+Inspect the recovered handgun for mechanical condition and serial restoration: document current function, photograph damage, perform controlled restoration to reveal serials, log all steps and chain-of-custody, and forward findings to Detective Ortiz.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Create photographic and sketch-based documentation
+Create photographic and sketch documentation for scene 22-309: take scaled overview photos, close-ups with…
Create photographic and sketch-based documentation
+Create photographic and sketch documentation for scene 22-309: take scaled overview photos, close-ups with measurement scales, produce a scaled sketch with cardinal bearings and evidence numbers, attach photos to the sketch and file both in the case folder.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft VisioAdobe Photoshopjob descriptions
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Operate digital media analysis tools
+Perform digital media analysis on the seized phone: image the device, verify hash integrity, run keyword and…
Operate digital media analysis tools
+Perform digital media analysis on the seized phone: image the device, verify hash integrity, run keyword and timeline searches for the suspect's name and locations, export relevant artifacts, and deliver an evidence package to Detective Lane by Monday.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptions
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Observe laboratory activities
+Observe the PCR lab run-through today, note who handled each sample, record start and end times for each…
Observe laboratory activities
+Observe the PCR lab run-through today, note who handled each sample, record start and end times for each assay, flag any deviations from standard PPE or calibration procedures, then send a concise incident note to Dr. Morales by 5 PM.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Support life science professionals
+Support the geneticist team by compiling yesterday’s sample intake log, match specimen IDs to the requested…
Support life science professionals
+Support the geneticist team by compiling yesterday’s sample intake log, match specimen IDs to the requested assays, highlight missing metadata, and deliver the cleaned intake spreadsheet to Dr. Chen and the lab manager before the 9 AM meeting.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Record test sequences
+Record the full test sequence for Batch 42: list each step in the order performed, note reagent lot numbers…
Record test sequences
+Record the full test sequence for Batch 42: list each step in the order performed, note reagent lot numbers and operator initials, time-stamp every transition, and save the completed log to the chain-of-custody folder and email a copy to QA.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Prepare samples for testing
+Prepare ten swab samples for serology by labeling tubes with sequential IDs, record sample weight, run the…
Prepare samples for testing
+Prepare ten swab samples for serology by labeling tubes with sequential IDs, record sample weight, run the centrifuge calibration check, note any anomalies, and upload the sample manifest to the case folder before noon.
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Laboratory techniques
+Perform the microscopy technique run sheet: note objective lenses used, immersion media, magnification,…
Laboratory techniques
+Perform the microscopy technique run sheet: note objective lenses used, immersion media, magnification, operator initials, and instrument calibration status; save the run sheet to the instrument log and notify the supervisor of any out-of-tolerance readings.
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Operate scientific measuring equipment
+Operate the spectrophotometer for absorbance checks: enter sample IDs, record blank and sample readings, run…
Operate scientific measuring equipment
+Operate the spectrophotometer for absorbance checks: enter sample IDs, record blank and sample readings, run the calibration standard, annotate any drift, and append the results to the assay workbook for the lead analyst to review by end of shift.
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses