Forensic Science Technicians pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,010 or more. The middle half of forensic science technicians in Portland earn between $68,570 and $102,520.
- $58K10th
- $69K25th
- $87KMedian
- $103K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,620 | $7,552 | $43.57 |
| Median | $87,460 | $7,288 | $42.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,570 | $5,714 | $32.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,520 | $8,543 | $49.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Forensic Science Technicians salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $90,620, a single filer in Portland takes home about $65,953 a year, or $5,496 a month and $2,537 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $72,581 | $6,048 |
| Working in OR | $65,953 | $5,496 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for forensic science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $90,620 buys what about $85,960 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Forensic Science Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Seattle, WA$90,700
- Boise, ID$81,180
- Missoula, MT$85,100
- Sacramento, CA$105,420
- Stockton, CA$80,580
- San Francisco, CA$127,560
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 Portland: questions
How much do forensic science technicians make an hour in Portland?
$43.57 an hour on average, and $42.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forensic science technicians salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forensic science technicians take-home pay in Portland?
About $65,953 a year ($5,496 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,620. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do forensic science technicians earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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