Forensic science technicians collect and analyze evidence for criminal investigations, at crime scenes and in labs. Software already compares fingerprints and DNA profiles against databases, and newer tools help sort and summarize case material.
The short answer: AI is a lab tool here, not a replacement. The ILO's 2025 index rates chemical and physical science technicians, the closest group, as not exposed, with a score of 0.26. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13 percent growth for forensic science technicians from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 2,800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed forensic science technicians are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical and Physical Science Technicians | Not exposed | 0.26 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for forensic science technicians, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Forensic science technicians | Grow 13% | About 2,800 |
The BLS says state and local governments are expected to keep hiring to handle high caseloads, and that scientific and technological advances should make forensic information more available, reliable and useful as evidence in trials. Its outlook does not mention AI by name.
Where AI is helping
- Searching fingerprint and DNA databases for candidate matches.
- Sorting and tagging photos and digital evidence.
- Drafting parts of lab reports from structured results.
What stays with forensic science technicians
- Scene work: collecting evidence without contaminating it.
- Chain of custody: documenting who handled what and when.
- Testimony: explaining methods and results in court and standing behind them.
- Checking AI help: a software match is a lead, not a conclusion, and generated text can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
More evidence is digital, and more of the first pass through it is done by software, which puts weight on the technician's ability to verify results and explain them in court. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace lab technicians?, will AI replace chemical technicians? and will AI replace scientists?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for forensic science technicians at $72,060 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace forensic science technicians?
Unlikely in the near term. The closest ILO group is not exposed, and the BLS projects 13 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Why is forensic science hiring growing?
The BLS points to high caseloads in state and local governments and to advances that make forensic evidence more useful in trials.
How many openings are expected?
About 2,800 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
Can AI make forensic matches?
Software suggests candidate matches, but a trained examiner checks them and must explain the result in court.