Forensic Science Technicians pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,090 or more. The middle half of forensic science technicians in San Jose earn between $102,820 and $162,090.
- $101K10th
- $103K25th
- $137KMedian
- $162K75th
- $162K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,690 | $11,058 | $63.79 |
| Median | $137,280 | $11,440 | $66.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,820 | $8,568 | $49.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $162,090 | $13,508 | $77.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Forensic Science Technicians salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $132,690, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $93,711 a year, or $7,809 a month and $3,604 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for forensic science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $132,690 buys what about $120,165 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Forensic Science Technicians salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 10 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$132,690
- San Francisco$127,560
- Los Angeles$107,010
- Sacramento$105,420
- Oxnard$104,680
- San Diego$104,440
- Fresno$90,100
- Riverside$87,970
- Stockton$80,580
- Bakersfield$77,390
Highest-paying cities for forensic science technicians
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($132,690).
- San Jose, CA$132,690
- San Francisco, CA$127,560
- Los Angeles, CA$107,010
- Chicago, IL$105,710
- Sacramento, CA$105,420
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Forensic Science Technicians salary in San Jose: questions
How much do forensic science technicians make an hour in San Jose?
$63.80 an hour on average, and $66.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forensic science technicians salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forensic science technicians take-home pay in San Jose?
About $93,711 a year ($7,809 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,690. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do forensic science technicians earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 64% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($80,977).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4092; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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