Sources: Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team, Texas State Classification Plan — Job Description Index and Salary Schedules A, B and C (FY 2026–27); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Texas state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 1, 2025. These are the ranges Texas sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Forensic Scientist I Class 6052 · class description Grade B20 | $51,158 – $81,351 a year |
| Forensic Scientist II Class 6053 · class description Grade B21 | $54,278 – $87,046 a year |
| Forensic Scientist III Class 6054 · class description Grade B22 | $57,614 – $93,138 a year |
| Forensic Scientist IV Class 6055 · class description Grade B23 | $61,184 – $99,658 a year |
| Forensic Scientist V Class 6056 · class description Grade B24 | $65,104 – $106,634 a year |
| Forensic Scientist VI Class 6057 · class description Grade B25 | $69,572 – $114,099 a year |
Schedule: Salary Schedule B (FY 2026–27). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team, Texas State Classification Plan — Job Description Index and Salary Schedules A, B and C (FY 2026–27). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Texas, all employers Sourced
Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) in Texas, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | TX |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,900 |
| 10th percentile | $42,430 |
| Median | $59,870 |
| 90th percentile | $82,640 |
| 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 Texas
780 police departments in Texas.
254 sheriff's offices in Texas.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician page.