Forensic Science Technicians
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-4092
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 19-4092 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 0.0%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 49/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $72,060
- H-1B offered wage $75,905; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 2,400
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +12.8%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 4
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 3,944 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~38.7% of this role but only ~0% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
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.
Common titles: Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Analyst (CSA), Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech), Criminalist, CSI (Crime Scene Investigator), Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech)
Representative Tasks
- •Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- •Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- •Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- •Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
- •Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Analyze forensic evidence to solve crimes.
- •Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- •Record research or operational data.
- •Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.
- •Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Tools & Technologies
Related Occupations
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 9.7% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 37% Bright |
| Median Salary | $72,060 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |