Quick answer: Virginia employs about 770 forensic science technicians (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare forensic science programs enrolling now:
Licensing and Credentials in Virginia
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.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
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 9 schools
within 187 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
9 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.
What Forensic Science Technicians Earn in Virginia
Forensic Science Technicians in Virginia earn a median $68,900 per year, below the national median of $72,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Forensic Science Pay and Employment in Virginia at a Glance
Metric
Virginia
National
Source
Median annual wage
$68,900
$72,060
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$49,390
$48,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$52,970
$57,830
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$99,330
$94,520
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$125,740
$117,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
770
19,120
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.52
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
12.8%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Virginia Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Virginia median of $68,900 sits below the national median of $72,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.52 puts Virginia well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. 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 Virginia?
The median annual wage for forensic science technicians in Virginia is $68,900, below the national median of $72,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $52,970 at the 25th percentile to $99,330 at the 75th.
How many forensic science technicians work in Virginia?
Virginia holds about 770 forensic science technician jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 19,120, and BLS projects about 2,900 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a forensic science technician in Virginia?
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. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a natural science or FEPAC-accredited forensic science degree online while working in Virginia?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies the agencies and crime laboratory system you are targeting.
What is the highest-paying area of Virginia for forensic science technicians?
Among Virginia metro areas with published data, Richmond reports the highest median at $70,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Virginia a good state for forensic science technicians?
On pay, the state median of $68,900 sits below the national $72,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.52 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
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/.
