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How much do forensic lab jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for forensic lab in the United States is $61,011.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,500.00 and $72,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Forensic Lab vs Crime Scene Investigator?

AspectForensic LabCrime Scene Investigator
CredentialsForensic science degree, certifications in forensic analysisCriminal justice or forensic science degree, training in scene documentation
Work EnvironmentLaboratory setting, controlled environmentOn-site at crime scenes, outdoor and indoor environments
Employer & IndustryLaw enforcement agencies, forensic laboratoriesLaw enforcement agencies, crime scene units
Primary FocusAnalyzing physical evidence in labsCollecting evidence at crime scenes

While both roles are essential in criminal investigations, forensic labs focus on analyzing evidence in controlled lab settings, whereas crime scene investigators gather evidence directly from crime scenes. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in forensic science.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Forensic Lab Technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Forensic Lab Technician, you need a solid background in chemistry, biology, or forensic science, often supported by a relevant degree or certification. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, DNA analysis tools, and evidence management systems is crucial. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills help ensure accuracy and effective reporting in high-stakes situations. These skills are vital for maintaining the integrity of evidence and supporting the justice process.

What is a forensic lab?

A forensic lab is a specialized facility where scientific analyses are conducted to assist in criminal investigations and legal proceedings. These labs use techniques from chemistry, biology, and other sciences to examine evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, drugs, and trace materials. Forensic scientists in these labs play a critical role in helping law enforcement solve crimes by providing objective, scientifically-backed results. The findings from forensic labs can be used in court to support or challenge evidence presented in criminal and civil cases.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a forensic laboratory setting?

Professionals in forensic labs often face challenges such as maintaining strict chain-of-custody protocols, managing a high volume of casework under tight deadlines, and ensuring accuracy under pressure, as their results can have significant legal implications. Additionally, staying updated with advancements in forensic technology and adhering to rigorous quality assurance standards are essential. Effective collaboration with law enforcement and legal teams is also key, as clear communication helps ensure that laboratory findings are properly understood and utilized.
More about Forensic Lab jobs
What cities are hiring for Forensic Lab jobs? Cities with the most Forensic Lab job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Forensic Lab jobs? The most popular types of Forensic Lab jobs are:
What states have the most Forensic Lab jobs? States with the most job openings for Forensic Lab jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Forensic Lab jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Forensic Lab jobs are:
Forensic Lab jobs near you
Infographic showing various Forensic Lab job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 81% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,011 per year, or $29.3 per hour.
Digital Forensic Analyst I

Digital Forensic Analyst I

Contact Government Services, LLC

Chantilly, VA

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Digital Forensic Analyst
Employment Type: Full-Time, Mid-Level
Department: Forensics   
 
CGS is seeking a Digital Forensic Analyst whose primary focus will be on the preservation & collection of mobile device and cloud-stored data.  This candidate should be fluent in a broad range of forensic technologies and interested in taking on a primary role in a quickly expanding forensics department. This position will include travel for on-site collection efforts as well as an in-office presence at the primary firm office which includes the forensics lab and data center.  This firm prioritizes a lean-team approach and a very employee-centric culture that encourages professional growth and active roles for all team members.
 
CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government’s most dynamic problems with cutting-edge technology. To carry out our mission, we are seeking candidates who are excited to contribute to government innovation, appreciate collaboration, and can anticipate the needs of others. Here at CGS, we offer an environment in which our employees feel supported, and we encourage professional growth through various learning opportunities.
 
Skills and attributes for success:
- Perform forensic data collection and basic forensic analysis in both on-site and remote capacity
- Coordinate directly with legal teams/client IT departments to understand project scope
- Maintain forensic tool set by staying current on version updates and new options in the market
- Work closely with project management and other team members on completing complex projects in a fast pace, deadline-driven environment
- Assist in developing, documenting, and refining procedures to accomplish discovery process requirements
- Manage all chain of custody best practices associated with the rules of evidence
- Consistently adhere to standard operating procedures
- Perform quality checks on work products prior to delivering to the client
- Complete additional duties assigned by the manager including general IT functions
 
Qualifications:
- Minimum of an undergraduate degree, preferably in Digital Forensic Science or Computer Science/Engineering
- 1+ years of relevant experience in where the analyst understands the forensic lifecycle and can properly perform scoping activities, evidence acquisitions on a range of devices, and execute forensic analysis at an intermediate level
- Experience using industry standard forensic tools such as:
- EnCase 
- Cellebrite 
 - Oxygen
 - FTK Imager 
 - MacQuisition
 - X1 Social Discovery
 - Logicube Falcon 
- General understanding of Mac/Windows filesystems, mobile devices, and encryption
- Experience preserving desktops, laptops, mobile devices/tablets, servers, both cloud and on-premise email implementations, nontraditional cloud data sources, social media, etc. in a forensically sound manner
- Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully in both verbally and in written format to team members and technical/non-technical clients
- Ability to work extended hours when necessary to ensure client deadlines are met
- Ability to demonstrate superior organizational skills with acute attention to detail
- Must be willing to travel regularly on short notice; must have a valid passport for occasional international travel
- Must be an energetic self-starter who can work within a team environment but also independently as the situation requires
- Ability to document forensic workflows based on sound industry practice
- Willingness to develop/train other team members to increase the group’s overall knowledge base as well as cultivate secondary resources to assist in larger collection events
- Strong troubleshooting skills coupled with the ability to solve on the fly to solve complex problems
 
Ideally, you will also have:
- Understanding of the electronic discovery reference model (EDRM)
- Possess at least one industry-standard certification (EnCE, CCE, CCFE, GCFE, GCFA, CCO, CCPA, CCME, etc.)
- General knowledge of litigation support applications (e.g. Relativity, Concordance, Nuix, LAW PreDiscovery, etc.)
- Experience working with structured data exported from various platforms including analysis, custom scripting, and data manipulation to develop reports for client use
- Understanding of (Robo/Rich) copy tools, BAT (PowerShell) scripting, and Active Directory
- Experience with scripting, programming/coding, and database languages (SQL, VB, HTML, Access)
 
Our Commitment:
Contact Government Services (CGS) strives to simplify and enhance government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. We combine cutting-edge technology with world-class personnel to deliver customized solutions that fit our client’s specific needs. We are committed to solving the most challenging and dynamic problems.
For the past seven years, we’ve been growing our government-contracting portfolio, and along the way, we’ve created valuable partnerships by demonstrating a commitment to honesty, professionalism, and quality work.
 
Here at CGS we value honesty through hard work and self-awareness, professionalism in all we do, and to deliver the best quality to our consumers mending those relations for years to come.
 
We care about our employees. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive benefits package.
- Health, Dental, and Vision
- Life Insurance
- 401k
- Flexible Spending Account (Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter)
- Paid Time Off and Observance of State/Federal Holidays
 
Contact Government Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
 
Join our team and become part of government innovation!
Explore additional job opportunities with CGS on our Job Board:
https://cgsfederal.com/join-our-team/
For more information about CGS please visit: https://www.cgsfederal.com or contact:
Email: info@cgsfederal.comDigital Forensic Analyst
Employment Type: Full-Time, Mid-Level
Department: Forensics   
 
CGS is seeking a Digital Forensic Analyst whose primary focus will be on the preservation & collection of mobile device and cloud-stored data.  This candidate should be fluent in a broad range of forensic technologies and interested in taking on a primary role in a quickly expanding forensics department. This position will include travel for on-site collection efforts as well as an in-office presence at the primary firm office which includes the forensics lab and data center.  This firm prioritizes a lean-team approach and a very employee-centric culture that encourages professional growth and active roles for all team members.
 
CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government’s most dynamic problems with cutting-edge technology. To carry out our mission, we are seeking candidates who are excited to contribute to government innovation, appreciate collaboration, and can anticipate the needs of others. Here at CGS, we offer an environment in which our employees feel supported, and we encourage professional growth through various learning opportunities.
 
Skills and attributes for success:
- Perform forensic data collection and basic forensic analysis in both on-site and remote capacity
- Coordinate directly with legal teams/client IT departments to understand project scope
- Maintain forensic tool set by staying current on version updates and new options in the market
- Work closely with project management and other team members on completing complex projects in a fast pace, deadline-driven environment
- Assist in developing, documenting, and refining procedures to accomplish discovery process requirements
- Manage all chain of custody best practices associated with the rules of evidence
- Consistently adhere to standard operating procedures
- Perform quality checks on work products prior to delivering to the client
- Complete additional duties assigned by the manager including general IT functions
 
Qualifications:
- Minimum of an undergraduate degree, preferably in Digital Forensic Science or Computer Science/Engineering
- 1+ years of relevant experience in where the analyst understands the forensic lifecycle and can properly perform scoping activities, evidence acquisitions on a range of devices, and execute forensic analysis at an intermediate level
- Experience using industry standard forensic tools such as:
- EnCase 
- Cellebrite 
 - Oxygen
 - FTK Imager 
 - MacQuisition
 - X1 Social Discovery
 - Logicube Falcon 
- General understanding of Mac/Windows filesystems, mobile devices, and encryption
- Experience preserving desktops, laptops, mobile devices/tablets, servers, both cloud and on-premise email implementations, nontraditional cloud data sources, social media, etc. in a forensically sound manner
- Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully in both verbally and in written format to team members and technical/non-technical clients
- Ability to work extended hours when necessary to ensure client deadlines are met
- Ability to demonstrate superior organizational skills with acute attention to detail
- Must be willing to travel regularly on short notice; must have a valid passport for occasional international travel
- Must be an energetic self-starter who can work within a team environment but also independently as the situation requires
- Ability to document forensic workflows based on sound industry practice
- Willingness to develop/train other team members to increase the group’s overall knowledge base as well as cultivate secondary resources to assist in larger collection events
- Strong troubleshooting skills coupled with the ability to solve on the fly to solve complex problems
 
Ideally, you will also have:
- Understanding of the electronic discovery reference model (EDRM)
- Possess at least one industry-standard certification (EnCE, CCE, CCFE, GCFE, GCFA, CCO, CCPA, CCME, etc.)
- General knowledge of litigation support applications (e.g. Relativity, Concordance, Nuix, LAW PreDiscovery, etc.)
- Experience working with structured data exported from various platforms including analysis, custom scripting, and data manipulation to develop reports for client use
- Understanding of (Robo/Rich) copy tools, BAT (PowerShell) scripting, and Active Directory
- Experience with scripting, programming/coding, and database languages (SQL, VB, HTML, Access)
 
Our Commitment:
Contact Government Services (CGS) strives to simplify and enhance government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. We combine cutting-edge technology with world-class personnel to deliver customized solutions that fit our client’s specific needs. We are committed to solving the most challenging and dynamic problems.
For the past seven years, we’ve been growing our government-contracting portfolio, and along the way, we’ve created valuable partnerships by demonstrating a commitment to honesty, professionalism, and quality work.
 
Here at CGS we value honesty through hard work and self-awareness, professionalism in all we do, and to deliver the best quality to our consumers mending those relations for years to come.
 
We care about our employees. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive benefits package.
- Health, Dental, and Vision
- Life Insurance
- 401k
- Flexible Spending Account (Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter)
- Paid Time Off and Observance of State/Federal Holidays
 
Contact Government Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
 
Join our team and become part of government innovation!
Explore additional job opportunities with CGS on our Job Board:
https://cgsfederal.com/join-our-team/
For more information about CGS please visit: https://www.cgsfederal.com or contact:
Email: info@cgsfederal.com
 
#CJ

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