Forensic Scientist 2 pay range
State of Washington · class code 505B
- Class code
- 505B
- Salary range
- 58
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Forensic Scientist 2 is $67,704 to $91,104 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 505B.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 58 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $67,704 | $69,348 | $71,136 | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 |
| Monthly | $5,642 | $5,779 | $5,928 | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 |
| Hourly | $32.43 | $33.21 | $34.07 | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). 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.
What the state says the job is
This is the journey level of the series. Positions at this level perform routine analysis on physical evidence in criminal cases submitted to the forensic laboratory. Incumbents interpret analytical results, prepare written opinion reports and may testify as an expert witness in courts of law. Incumbents will have completed the majority of their training in an assigned discipline and will focus on the routine analysis of physical evidence. Routine analysis involves laboratory examination in which the items to be tested require a single specific examination or a standard battery of examinations or analyses, the results of which lead to a definitive conclusion acceptable to experts in the field.
Examples of the work
Documents and protects evidence according to laboratory procedures, ensuring that the chain of custody is maintained; In an assigned discipline, examines and analyzes evidence in routine-type requests where interpretations are straightforward and objective, selecting appropriate methods, techniques, and instruments; Reports findings in the form of a written laboratory report based on the interpretation of observations and analytical test results; May respond to requests for assistance at crime scenes; May testify as an expert witness in courts of law; Provides peer review and participates in proficiency testing to maintain expertise; Maintains the laboratory instruments and equipment in good ...
Minimum qualifications
Positions typically require a Bachelor of Science degree in forensic science, natural science, or closely related field which includes a minimum of 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours of chemistry and 8 quarter hours of physics, AND One year technical experience in a forensic laboratory performing analyses of physical evidence. Examples of related fields, including but not limited to, are: pharmacology, medical technology, genetics or molecular biology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, nuclear chemistry, or toxicology.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.
Nearby classes in Washington
Forensic Scientist 2 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $59,800 | $92,690 | $59,800 to $92,690 |
| Minnesota | $73,706 | $109,307 | $73,706 to $109,307 |
| New Jersey | $91,628 | $134,900 | $91,628 to $134,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,086 | $104,959 | $69,086 to $104,959 |
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.