Forensic Scientist Salary in Richmond, CA — 2026
Forensic Scientist salary data for Richmond, CA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Forensic Scientist salary in Richmond, CA is $109,930 per year ($9,161/month, $52.85/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, which covers Richmond. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 161.9) would have estimated $116,665; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA MSA, $52.85/hr median. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Forensic Scientist Take-Home Pay in Richmond
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $109,930 |
| Federal Tax | -$15,355 |
| State Tax (5.6% eff.) | -$6,131 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$8,410 |
| Annual Take-Home | $80,034 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $6,670 |
Living Cost Comparison
Forensic Scientist Requirements
Key Skills
Richmond Job Market Overview
Richmond, California has a population of 116,448 and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. The top industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. The local job growth rate is 0.7%, and the average commute time is 18minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Forensic Scientist Salary in Nearby California Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Forensic Scientist in Richmond
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Forensic Scientist in Richmond, CA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $73,200 | $35/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $91,565 | $44/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $109,930 | $53/hr | Mid-career, 1-3 years |
| 75th | $148,100 | $71/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $176,800 | $85/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Richmond's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 13.0% salary growth for Forensic Scientists over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Richmond estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Forensic Scientist can expect a 15.1% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 5 years in Richmond. Negotiation, certifications (AAFS Certification, ABC Certification), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Richmond vs National Average
The national median Forensic Scientist salary is $72,060 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Forensic Science Technicians). In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro, the BLS median of $109,930 is 52.6% above the national figure. Richmond's cost of living index is 161.9 (higher than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Forensic Scientists, this means: rent typically consumes 54.8% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Richmond costs about 11.2× annual take-home. Homeownership in Richmond on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Technology in Richmond
Richmond's economy is anchored by Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, with 116,448 residents and an unemployment rate of 5.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Forensic Scientists can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 0.7%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Forensic Scientist roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Forensic Scientist salaries in Richmond, CA:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Richmond-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($116,665 modeled) using the Richmond index of 161.9 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), CA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 13.3%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Richmond QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Richmond figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Forensic Scientist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Richmond), specific skill set (DNA Analysis, Toxicology, Crime Scene Investigation), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Forensic Scientist salary in Richmond, CA?
How much does a Forensic Scientist take home in Richmond after taxes?
Is Richmond a good city for Forensic Scientists?
What skills are needed for a Forensic Scientist in Richmond?
How does Forensic Scientist salary in Richmond compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Forensic Scientist salary in Richmond, CA?
The median Forensic Scientist salary in Richmond, CA is $109,930 per year ($52.85/hr): the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Forensic Science Technicians (SOC 19-4092) in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $73,200 and the senior estimate of $148,100 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Forensic Scientist take home in Richmond after taxes?
A Forensic Scientist earning the median salary of $109,930 in Richmond, CA takes home approximately $80,034 per year ($6,670/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 27.2%.
Is Richmond a good city for Forensic Scientists?
Richmond, CA has a cost of living index of 161.9 (above national average). Forensic Scientists here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 5.2% and top industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture.
What skills are needed for a Forensic Scientist in Richmond?
Key skills for Forensic Scientists include DNA Analysis, Toxicology, Crime Scene Investigation, Chain of Custody, Lab Techniques. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include AAFS Certification, ABC Certification.
How does Forensic Scientist salary in Richmond compare to the national average?
The national median for Forensic Science Technicians is $72,060 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro, the BLS median is $109,930, which is 52.6% higher than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 161.9) would have estimated $116,665.