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Job title · Washington

Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician in Washington

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources lists 5 job classes for this work in the Washington state pay plan: Forensic Scientist 1–5.

$61,332 – $125,544
state pay plan range, a year
5
classes in the state plan
$81,310
median pay in WA, all employers
390
workers in WA (SOC 19-4092)

Sources: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Washington sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Forensic Scientist 1
Class 505A · class description
Grade 54
$61,332 – $82,440 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $61,332 a year
  • Step B: $62,880 a year
  • Step C: $64,512 a year
  • Step D: $66,072 a year
  • Step E: $67,704 a year
  • Step F: $69,348 a year
  • Step G: $71,136 a year
  • Step H: $72,900 a year
  • Step I: $74,748 a year
  • Step J: $76,608 a year
  • Step K: $78,504 a year
  • Step L: $80,496 a year
  • Step M: $82,440 a year
Forensic Scientist 2
Class 505B · class description
Grade 58
$67,704 – $91,104 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $67,704 a year
  • Step B: $69,348 a year
  • Step C: $71,136 a year
  • Step D: $72,900 a year
  • Step E: $74,748 a year
  • Step F: $76,608 a year
  • Step G: $78,504 a year
  • Step H: $80,496 a year
  • Step I: $82,440 a year
  • Step J: $84,528 a year
  • Step K: $86,688 a year
  • Step L: $88,788 a year
  • Step M: $91,104 a year
Forensic Scientist 3
Class 505C · class description
Grade 66
$82,440 – $110,952 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $82,440 a year
  • Step B: $84,528 a year
  • Step C: $86,688 a year
  • Step D: $88,788 a year
  • Step E: $91,104 a year
  • Step F: $93,288 a year
  • Step G: $95,676 a year
  • Step H: $98,064 a year
  • Step I: $100,488 a year
  • Step J: $102,996 a year
  • Step K: $105,612 a year
  • Step L: $108,228 a year
  • Step M: $110,952 a year
Forensic Scientist 4
Class 505E · class description
Grade 68
$86,688 – $116,544 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $86,688 a year
  • Step B: $88,788 a year
  • Step C: $91,104 a year
  • Step D: $93,288 a year
  • Step E: $95,676 a year
  • Step F: $98,064 a year
  • Step G: $100,488 a year
  • Step H: $102,996 a year
  • Step I: $105,612 a year
  • Step J: $108,228 a year
  • Step K: $110,952 a year
  • Step L: $113,736 a year
  • Step M: $116,544 a year
Forensic Scientist 5
Class 505F · class description
Grade 71
$93,288 – $125,544 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $93,288 a year
  • Step B: $95,676 a year
  • Step C: $98,064 a year
  • Step D: $100,488 a year
  • Step E: $102,996 a year
  • Step F: $105,612 a year
  • Step G: $108,228 a year
  • Step H: $110,952 a year
  • Step I: $113,736 a year
  • Step J: $116,544 a year
  • Step K: $119,460 a year
  • Step L: $122,448 a year
  • Step M: $125,544 a year

Schedule: General Service Salary Schedule. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) in Washington, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureWA
Workers390
10th percentile$61,290
Median$81,310
90th percentile$108,300
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 Washington

191 police departments in Washington.

39 sheriff's offices in Washington.

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.

Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician in other states

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