Prevailing Wage for Forensic Science Technicians
Prevailing wage for Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment Statistics data across four experience levels. Whether your title reads Crime Scene Analyst (CSA), Criminalist, or Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), the same SOC code applies. The floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level technicians with limited experience, typically following detailed procedures under close supervision. Usually recent graduates or those new to forensic work who have not yet independently managed evidence collection, analysis, or court testimony responsibilities.
Qualified technicians with some independent case experience across evidence collection and laboratory analysis. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Forensic Science Technicians, reflecting roles where moderate judgment is expected but senior oversight remains available.
Experienced technicians who independently manage complex casework, may specialize in a discipline such as ballistics or DNA analysis, and occasionally mentor junior staff. These professionals routinely exercise professional judgment with minimal supervision.
Fully competent senior technicians or lead criminalists who direct evidence programs, serve as primary expert witnesses, set laboratory protocols, and may supervise teams. This level reflects the highest independent authority within a forensic unit.
Prevailing Wage for Forensic Science Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Forensic Science Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your specialty maps to SOC 19-4092
Forensic disciplines like latent fingerprint examination or digital evidence recovery are sometimes filed under different SOC codes by employers. Verify your LCA uses SOC 19-4092 so your offer is measured against the correct Forensic Science Technicians wage floor, not a lower-paying adjacent category.
Expect Level 2 filings at public-sector labs
County crime labs and state police agencies overwhelmingly file H-1B and PERM applications at Level 2 for working criminalists. If your offer comes from a government forensic lab, the Level 2 floor is the relevant benchmark to check before accepting.
Watch the gap between California metros and national medians
San Jose and San Francisco prevailing wages for this occupation can be double those in lower-paying metros like Winston, NC or Columbia, SC. If your worksite is in a California metro, the LCA must reflect that city specifically, not a blended or national figure.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with forensic sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Forensic Science Technicians and Crime Scene Analyst roles on work visas. Filtering by sponsorship history helps you target agencies and private labs that have already navigated the H-1B or PERM process for this occupation.
Jobs for Forensic Science Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Forensic Science TechniciansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-4092.00 alongside Forensic Science Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst) Prevailing Wage
Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst) positions fall under SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Crime Scene Analyst (CSA) Prevailing Wage
Crime Scene Analyst (CSA) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Crime Scene Analyst (CSA) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech) Prevailing Wage
Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech) Prevailing Wage
Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Criminalist Prevailing Wage
Criminalist Prevailing Wage
Criminalist positions fall under SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) Prevailing Wage
CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech) Prevailing Wage
Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech) Prevailing Wage
Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Forensic Science Examiner Prevailing Wage
Forensic Science Examiner Prevailing Wage
Forensic Science Examiner positions fall under SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Forensic Scientist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Scientist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Forensic Scientist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Forensic Specialist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Specialist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Latent Print Examiner Prevailing Wage
Latent Print Examiner Prevailing Wage
Latent Print Examiner positions fall under SOC 19-4092.00 (Forensic Science Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Forensic Science Technicians?
DOL uses Occupational Employment Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, OFLC calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for SOC 19-4092. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the DOL-published level that matches the position's experience requirements and duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry positions with close supervision and limited independent judgment. Level 2 applies to qualified technicians with some independent casework experience. Level 3 reflects experienced specialists who work with minimal oversight, including those with a recognized disciplinary focus. Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead roles directing programs or staff. Your level is determined by the actual duties and supervision structure in your position, not your job title alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same forensic technician role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 19-4092. Dense employer markets like San Jose or San Francisco push surveyed wages up substantially. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, and the prevailing wage used must correspond to that specific OES area, not a national or state average. Employers cannot substitute a lower-cost metro's figure for a higher-cost worksite.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage floor?
An employer filing an LCA that lists a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite area and experience level will face certification denial from OFLC. For PERM-based green card filings, USCIS can deny the I-140 petition if the offered wage does not meet the prevailing wage determination. The employer must correct the offer before resubmitting, and any underpayment after certification can trigger DOL back-wage liability.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 19-4092 for any of the 530-plus metropolitan areas covered. Select the correct OES area matching your worksite city and choose the experience level that reflects your actual duties. You can also review O*NET for occupation-level context. For sponsored positions, the certified LCA itself must list both the wage offered and the applicable prevailing wage, and you can cross-check those figures against OFLC disclosure data.
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