As of June 2026, Forensic Science Technicians has an AI-exposure score of 57/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Forensic Science Technicians
More exposed than 54% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$72,060. About 2,900 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Science roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.
- Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.
- Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
- Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.
- Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions.
- Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
- Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.
- Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings.
- Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
- Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.
- Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
- Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
- Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
- Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
- Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.
- Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
- Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
- Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
- Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.
- Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (95%).
Safer adjacent roles
Your AI-Safe Career Report
Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
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Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
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