Best states for a forensic specialist

Q: What is the best state for forensic specialists?

The best state to be a forensic specialist is Alaska based on forensic specialist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for forensic specialists?

The highest paying state for forensic specialists is North Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for forensic specialists?

The worst state for forensic specialists is Tennessee, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Forensic specialist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for forensic specialists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for forensic specialists.As forensic specialists are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for forensic specialists. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a forensic specialist, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

We figured that the best places for forensic specialist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a forensic specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for forensic specialists in 2026

1. Alaska
Total forensic specialist jobs: 43
Average annual salary: $92,380
Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Forensic specialist jobs in Alaska
2. Nebraska
Total forensic specialist jobs: 116
Average annual salary: $75,581
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Forensic specialist jobs in Nebraska
3. North Dakota
Total forensic specialist jobs: 47
Average annual salary: $74,263
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Forensic specialist jobs in North Dakota
4. Utah
Total forensic specialist jobs: 113
Average annual salary: $76,702
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Forensic specialist jobs in Utah
5. Delaware
Total forensic specialist jobs: 65
Average annual salary: $60,330
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
1.32
Forensic specialist jobs in Delaware
6. Nevada
Total forensic specialist jobs: 98
Average annual salary: $60,722
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Forensic specialist jobs in Nevada
7. Montana
Total forensic specialist jobs: 51
Average annual salary: $59,852
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Forensic specialist jobs in Montana
8. West Virginia
Total forensic specialist jobs: 60
Average annual salary: $59,939
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
1
Forensic specialist jobs in West Virginia
9. California
Total forensic specialist jobs: 890
Average annual salary: $80,516
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
Forensic specialist jobs in California
10. Mississippi
Total forensic specialist jobs: 60
Average annual salary: $73,399
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Forensic specialist jobs in Mississippi

Forensic specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a forensic specialist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a forensic specialist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$92,380	$80,000	739,795	43
2	Nebraska	$75,581	$51,000	1,920,076	116
3	North Dakota	$74,263	$55,000	755,393	47
4	Utah	$76,702	$51,000	3,101,833	113
5	Delaware	$60,330	$40,000	961,939	65
6	Nevada	$60,722	$38,000	2,998,039	98
7	Montana	$59,852	$43,000	1,050,493	51
8	West Virginia	$59,939	$40,000	1,815,857	60
9	California	$80,516	$50,000	39,536,653	890
10	Mississippi	$73,399	$46,000	2,984,100	60
11	South Dakota	$59,041	$42,000	869,666	44
12	Wyoming	$56,222	$38,000	579,315	46
13	Maryland	$60,091	$40,000	6,052,177	329
14	Washington	$65,709	$46,000	7,405,743	243
15	Louisiana	$56,961	$35,000	4,684,333	143
16	Ohio	$59,883	$41,000	11,658,609	371
17	Rhode Island	$57,899	$41,000	1,059,639	49
18	Iowa	$53,203	$37,000	3,145,711	224
19	Hawaii	$60,007	$52,000	1,427,538	70
20	District of Columbia	$59,892	$39,000	693,972	73
21	Kentucky	$58,675	$38,000	4,454,189	122
22	Florida	$53,790	$34,000	20,984,400	780
23	Oregon	$56,031	$38,000	4,142,776	173
24	New Mexico	$56,053	$35,000	2,088,070	72
25	Pennsylvania	$53,541	$36,000	12,805,537	475
26	Arizona	$53,471	$33,000	7,016,270	258
27	Colorado	$59,176	$39,000	5,607,154	202
28	South Carolina	$57,413	$36,000	5,024,369	138
29	New Hampshire	$55,525	$41,000	1,342,795	66
30	Massachusetts	$56,845	$41,000	6,859,819	371
31	Vermont	$53,730	$42,000	623,657	31
32	Connecticut	$59,239	$41,000	3,588,184	103
33	Texas	$54,852	$34,000	28,304,596	749
34	Illinois	$57,410	$39,000	12,802,023	402
35	New York	$53,207	$36,000	19,849,399	571
36	Minnesota	$55,506	$40,000	5,576,606	219
37	Maine	$54,104	$43,000	1,335,907	41
38	Idaho	$50,353	$34,000	1,716,943	69
39	Alabama	$49,998	$31,000	4,874,747	170
40	New Jersey	$55,289	$38,000	9,005,644	259
41	Indiana	$48,573	$33,000	6,666,818	250
42	Wisconsin	$48,508	$34,000	5,795,483	200
43	Virginia	$49,439	$32,000	8,470,020	371
44	Arkansas	$42,722	$27,000	3,004,279	112
45	Michigan	$44,089	$31,000	9,962,311	314
46	Georgia	$42,193	$27,000	10,429,379	445
47	Missouri	$47,383	$31,000	6,113,532	199
48	North Carolina	$39,870	$25,000	10,273,419	459
49	Kansas	$41,478	$27,000	2,913,123	129
50	Oklahoma	$42,886	$27,000	3,930,864	121
51	Tennessee	$42,652	$27,000	6,715,984	206

Highest paying states for forensic specialists

Rank	State	Avg. Forensic Specialist Salary
1	Alaska	$92,380
2	Nebraska	$75,581
3	North Dakota	$74,263
4	Utah	$76,702
5	Delaware	$60,330
6	Nevada	$60,722
7	Montana	$59,852
8	West Virginia	$59,939
9	California	$80,516
10	Mississippi	$73,399
11	South Dakota	$59,041
12	Wyoming	$56,222
13	Maryland	$60,091
14	Washington	$65,709
15	Louisiana	$56,961
16	Ohio	$59,883
17	Rhode Island	$57,899
18	Iowa	$53,203
19	Hawaii	$60,007
20	District of Columbia	$59,892
21	Kentucky	$58,675
22	Florida	$53,790
23	Oregon	$56,031
24	New Mexico	$56,053
25	Pennsylvania	$53,541
26	Arizona	$53,471
27	Colorado	$59,176
28	South Carolina	$57,413
29	New Hampshire	$55,525
30	Massachusetts	$56,845
31	Vermont	$53,730
32	Connecticut	$59,239
33	Texas	$54,852
34	Illinois	$57,410
35	New York	$53,207
36	Minnesota	$55,506
37	Maine	$54,104
38	Idaho	$50,353
39	Alabama	$49,998
40	New Jersey	$55,289
41	Indiana	$48,573
42	Wisconsin	$48,508
43	Virginia	$49,439
44	Arkansas	$42,722
45	Michigan	$44,089
46	Georgia	$42,193
47	Missouri	$47,383
48	North Carolina	$39,870
49	Kansas	$41,478
50	Oklahoma	$42,886
51	Tennessee	$42,652

Forensic specialist best states FAQs

What is the best state for forensic specialists?

What is the highest paying state for forensic specialists?

What is the worst state for forensic specialists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

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Forensic Specialist
Best states for Forensic Specialists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total forensic specialist jobs:	43
Average annual salary:	$92,380
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$80,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$105,000
Location Quotient:	1.31

Best states for a forensic specialist

10 best states for forensic specialists in 2026

1. Alaska

2. Nebraska

3. North Dakota

4. Utah

5. Delaware

6. Nevada

7. Montana

8. West Virginia

9. California

10. Mississippi