Forensic Technician I pay range
Commonwealth of Kentucky · class code 21004927
- Class code
- 21004927
- Pay grade
- 11
- Pay unit
- Month
- Alternate ranges
- 3
- State
- Kentucky
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky published pay range for Forensic Technician I is $2,760 to $4,416 per month, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Kentucky publishes an entry rate and a midpoint for each pay grade, not a maximum, so the upper figure on this page is the grade midpoint.
- That works out to about $33,119 to $52,990 a year at full time.
- Kentucky Personnel Cabinet keys this classification as class code 21004927.
- The plan defines 3 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which criteria an employee meets.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Alternate ranges
| Range | Entry | Midpoint | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range 37.5-hour week | $2,760 | $4,140 | per month |
| Range 40-hour week | $2,944 | $4,416 | per month |
| Range Hourly | $16.98 | $25.48 | per hour |
Which alternate range applies is set by the plan's own criteria (experience, certification or assignment). The criteria text lives in the source document.
Class specification
The Personnel Cabinet class specification for this class is published by Kentucky Personnel Cabinet. The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 03/16/2026.
What the state says the job is
Under direct supervision, learns to properly receive, store, and release forensic evidence, while adhering to chain of custody protocols. Learns to perform forensic laboratory functions such as routine instrument maintenance tasks; simple standardized testing on forensic samples; and formulating chemical and biological reagents; performs other duties as required.
Examples of the work
Receives training to gain skills related to the procedures and principles governing the receipt, storage, and release of evidence within a forensic laboratory setting. Learns to properly log in, handle, and store different types of evidence in accordance with established procedures and legal requirements. Gains understanding of the chain of custody requirements and procedures to maintain the integrity of evidence. Learns to assess the condition and adequacy of evidence packaging upon receipt safe storage or dispatch. Learns to prepare accurate and detailed evidence inventory records, including descriptions of items, their condition upon receipt, and any changes in their status or location.
Minimum qualifications
EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in the physical, biological, or forensic sciences, criminal justice, engineering or mathematics. EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: NONE Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Professional laboratory experience performing routine, non-complex laboratory duties in a forensic laboratory or professional experience in the receipt, storage, and release of evidence at a forensic laboratory or law enforcement agency will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Quoted from the Personnel Cabinet class specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet publishes this figure in Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule, effective September 16, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
Job titles and their pay grades come from the Job Specification Search, joined to the salary schedule.
Nearby classes in Kentucky
Forensic Technician I in other states
| State | Entry | Midpoint | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $37,944 | $60,690 | $37,944 to $60,690 |
Each state publishes its own range for a classification with this exact title. Duties, grade structures and bargaining units differ between states, so read each class page before comparing.