Forensic Scientist 4 pay range
State of Washington · class code 505E
- Class code
- 505E
- Salary range
- 68
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Forensic Scientist 4 is $86,688 to $116,544 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 505E.
- 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 68 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 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 | $98,064 | $100,488 | $102,996 | $105,612 | $108,228 | $110,952 | $113,736 | $116,544 |
| Monthly | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 | $8,172 | $8,374 | $8,583 | $8,801 | $9,019 | $9,246 | $9,478 | $9,712 |
| Hourly | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 | $46.97 | $48.13 | $49.33 | $50.58 | $51.83 | $53.14 | $54.47 | $55.82 |
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
Serves as a forensic technical lead in a specific discipline or functional area of forensic science in a crime laboratory and performs complex analyses on physical evidence. This involves casework where applied research, method modification, or a unique approach may be necessary; or a single definite conclusion is not possible and a weighted conclusion is warranted; or casework requiring the reconstruction of an event or series of events based upon the interpretation of physical evidence.
Examples of the work
Provides forensic technical leadership to a group of forensic scientists working in a specific discipline or functional area of a crime laboratory; Assists the appointing authority with recruiting, selecting, and hiring qualified personnel to serve as forensic scientists; Assists with training new personnel, monitoring their progress, and facilitating statewide consistency in training programs; Facilitates technical seminars and lectures on relevant forensic science topics; Administers and documents competency tests and proficiency tests for section personnel; Communicates and implements quality assurance measures aimed at ensuring the section’s personnel and work product meet or exceed all ...
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 5 semester or 8 quarter hours of physics, AND Five years of technical experience in a forensic science laboratory performing analyses of physical evidence and testifying as an expert witness in courts of law. Note: For DNA positions, applicants must have successfully completed at least one undergraduate or graduate level course in each of the following subjects: biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology.
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 4 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $39,000 | $54,600 | $39,000 to $54,600 |
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.