Sources: Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), State of Minnesota Salary Plan — Classifications and Salary Ranges (report LR0067); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Minnesota state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 2, 2026. These are the ranges Minnesota sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Trainee-Forensic Scientist 1 Class 008540 Grade 02B · Salary grid 14E | $28.75 a hour $59,800 a year |
| Forensic Scientist 1 Class 000214 Grade 12L · Salary grid 14G | $30.76 – $45.26 a hour $63,981 – $94,141 a year |
| Forensic Scientist 2 Class 000215 Grade 16L · Salary grid 14G | $35.30 – $52.35 a hour $73,424 – $108,888 a year |
| Forensic Scientist 3 Class 001429 Grade 19L · Salary grid 14G | $39.22 – $58.35 a hour $81,578 – $121,368 a year |
Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions (hourly × 2,080). Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), State of Minnesota Salary Plan — Classifications and Salary Ranges (report LR0067). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Minnesota, all employers Sourced
Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) in Minnesota, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MN |
|---|---|
| Workers | 140 |
| 10th percentile | $58,660 |
| Median | $76,960 |
| 90th percentile | $107,170 |
| National median, government employers | $73,540 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Employers in Minnesota
281 police departments in Minnesota.
87 sheriff's offices in Minnesota.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Minnesota
IAI Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI)Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep- IAI Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst (CSCSA)Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician page.