SOC 19-4092 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · May 2025

How much do Forensic Science Technicians make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $62,120. The 10th percentile is $47,950 and the 90th percentile is $103,350. Employment is 150.

Median annual wage

$62,120

10th percentile
$47,950
25th percentile
$50,160
Median
$62,120
75th percentile
$79,070
90th percentile
$103,350
Mean
$67,630

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

A nurse attending an elderly patient in a hospital
A nurse with a patient at a hospital centre in Birmingham. Wellcome Collection. Photograph by Wellcome Collection. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Percentile spread

For Forensic Science Technicians, the published 10th percentile is $47,950 and the 90th percentile is $103,350. The difference is $55,400, which is 89.2% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $50,160 to the 75th at $79,070, covers $28,910.

The mean annual wage is $67,630, which sits above the median of $62,120. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median is 13.8% lower than the national median of $72,060 for Forensic Science Technicians. In 2024 national prices the local median is $63,426, which is 12% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 9.8% lower than the Virginia median of $68,900.

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Virginia, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $62,120 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Forensic Science Technicians at $63,426 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

7 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Forensic Science Technicians. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 6th of 8 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Richmond, VA is 70 miles away, with a median of $70,160 and employment of 140. That median is 12.9% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $71,696, against $63,426 here.
  • Raleigh-Cary, NC is 137 miles away, with a median of $62,790 and employment of 70. That median is 1.1% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $63,969, against $63,426 here.
  • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 150 miles away, with a median of $85,070 and employment of 660. That median is 36.9% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $78,129, against $63,426 here.

Employment share

Forensic Science Technicians accounts for 0.02% of wage-and-salary employment in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (150 of 763,060). Nationally the occupation is 0.01% of employment (19,120 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.60 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · Forensic Science Technicians by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Forensic Science Technicians make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $62,120. The 10th percentile is $47,950 and the 90th percentile is $103,350. Employment is 150.

How does that compare with the national median for Forensic Science Technicians?

The local median is 13.8% lower than the national median of $72,060.

What is Forensic Science Technicians pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $62,120 is $63,426. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC compare with nearby metros for Forensic Science Technicians?

Richmond, VA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 70 miles away, at $70,160. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 6th of 8 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.