Forensic Science Technicians pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,470 or more. The middle half of forensic science technicians in Houston earn between $51,260 and $82,410.
- $38K10th
- $51K25th
- $66KMedian
- $82K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,280 | $5,440 | $31.38 |
| Median | $66,440 | $5,537 | $31.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,260 | $4,272 | $24.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,410 | $6,868 | $39.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Forensic Science Technicians pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Forensic science technicians in Houston earn 6% more than the Texas average ($61,530) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($79,200). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $72,060.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $65,280 | $66,440 | $38,080 | $83,470 | 300 |
| Texas | $61,530 | $59,870 | $42,430 | $82,640 | 1,900 |
| United States | $79,200 | $72,060 | $48,250 | $117,250 | 19,120 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Forensic Science Technicians salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $65,280, a single filer in Houston takes home about $54,632 a year, or $4,553 a month and $2,101 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for forensic science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $65,280 buys what about $66,187 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Forensic Science Technicians salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 2nd of 8 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($68,750).
- Austin$68,750
- Houston$65,280
- El Paso$62,380
- Dallas$61,330
- San Antonio$58,250
- McAllen$55,280
- Corpus Christi$54,150
- Lubbock$53,540
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 Houston: questions
How much do forensic science technicians make an hour in Houston?
$31.39 an hour on average, and $31.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forensic science technicians salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forensic science technicians take-home pay in Houston?
About $54,632 a year ($4,553 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,280. Texas has no state income tax.
Do forensic science technicians earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($79,200).
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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