Bottom quarter
$68K
Forensic Science Technician Salary in Chicago
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$82K
Top quarter
$101K
Top 10%
$119K
Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Forensic Science Technician in Chicago pulls a median of $81,900 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $100,800 and the top 10% at $118,650. Pay in Chicago runs about 5% above the national baseline. The gap between the middle of the market and the top quarter is real money — at this role, $18,900 a year. Ask for it.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$100,800 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$91,350 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$81,900 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Forensic Science Technician elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.