Quick answer: The San Diego metro employs about 220 forensic science technicians (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting.
Compare forensic science programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Forensic science technicians are not licensed in the way clinical professions are. Hiring standards are set by the employing agency and the crime laboratory system it belongs to, and laboratory accreditation drives many of those standards. The national reference points are FEPAC program accreditation and, after employment and casework experience, certification through the American Board of Criminalistics.
See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 6 schools
within 112 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
6 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
University of Southern California
📍
Los Angeles, CA
•106.1 miles away•BOC Score
80.2
What Forensic Science Technicians Earn in San Diego
Forensic Science Technicians in the San Diego area earn a median $105,320 per year, above the national median of $72,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Forensic Science Pay in San Diego, CA
Metric
San Diego metro
California
National
Median annual wage
$105,320
$102,100
$72,060
10th percentile
$68,060
$64,650
$48,250
25th percentile
$83,940
$80,810
$57,830
75th percentile
$135,330
$132,810
$94,520
90th percentile
$141,340
$148,090
$117,250
Employment
220
2,800
19,120
Location quotient
1.14
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The San Diego median of $105,320 is above the national median of $72,060, and above the California statewide median of $102,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.14 means forensic science technicians are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Forensic science hiring is concentrated in state and municipal crime laboratories and medical examiner offices, so openings follow agency budgets rather than the private labor market.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do forensic science technicians make in San Diego?
The median annual wage for forensic science technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $105,320, above the national median of $72,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many forensic science technicians work in the San Diego area?
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area employs about 220 forensic science technicians (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do forensic science technicians in San Diego need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Forensic science technicians are not licensed in the way clinical professions are. Hiring standards are set by the employing agency and the crime laboratory system it belongs to, and laboratory accreditation drives many of those standards. The national reference points are FEPAC program accreditation and, after employment and casework experience, certification through the American Board of Criminalistics. Confirm current requirements with the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting.
Can I study forensic science online from San Diego?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting.
Is San Diego a better market than the rest of California?
The San Diego metro median is $105,320 against a statewide median of $102,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
