Forensic Science Technicians
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 19-4092.00
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.26
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only21 rated tasks · 16 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (76.2%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 30.2) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.19-4092.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.0400100.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 23 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings. | —0 | —0 |
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus. | —0 | —0 |
Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work. | —0 | —0 |
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity. | —0 | —0 |
Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints. | —0 | —0 |
Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred. | —0 | —0 |
Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations. | —0 | —0 |
Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation. | —0 | —0 |
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques. | —0 | —0 |
Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases. | —0 | —0 |
Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques. | —0 | —0 |
Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes. | —0 | —0 |
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes. | —0 | —0 |
Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence. | —0 | —0 |
Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions. | —0 | —0 |
Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes. | —0 | —0 |
Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes. | —0 | —0 |
Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence. | —0 | —0 |
Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers. | —0 | —0 |
Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark. | —0 | —0 |
Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings. | —0 | —0 |
Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition. | —0 | —0 |
Analyze data from computers or other digital media sources for evidence related to criminal activity. | —0 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.O*NET Task ID 18478 | 1.0 |
Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.O*NET Task ID 1571 | 0.5 |
Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.O*NET Task ID 1573 | 0.5 |
Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.O*NET Task ID 1580 | 0.5 |
Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.O*NET Task ID 1582 | 0.5 |
Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.O*NET Task ID 1583 | 0.5 |
Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.O*NET Task ID 1584 | 0.5 |
Examine physical evidence, such as hair, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.O*NET Task ID 1585 | 0.5 |
Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.O*NET Task ID 1587 | 0.5 |
Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.O*NET Task ID 1589 | 0.5 |
Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark.O*NET Task ID 1590 | 0.5 |
Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.O*NET Task ID 18479 | 0.5 |
Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.O*NET Task ID 18482 | 0.5 |
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.O*NET Task ID 20399 | 0.5 |
Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.O*NET Task ID 20400 | 0.5 |
Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings.O*NET Task ID 20401 | 0.5 |
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.O*NET Task ID 1574 | 0.0 |
Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.O*NET Task ID 1575 | 0.0 |
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.O*NET Task ID 1577 | 0.0 |
Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes.O*NET Task ID 1578 | 0.0 |
Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.O*NET Task ID 18481 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings. | Core |
| Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus. | Core |
| Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work. | Core |
| Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity. | Core |
| Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints. | Core |
| Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred. | Core |
| Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations. | Core |
| Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation. | Core |
| Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques. | Core |
| Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases. | Core |
| Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques. | Core |
| Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes. | Core |
| Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes. | Core |
| Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence. | Core |
| Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions. | Core |
| Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes. | Supplemental |
| Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes. | Supplemental |
| Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence. | Supplemental |
| Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers. | Supplemental |
| Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark. | Supplemental |
| Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit. | Supplemental |
| Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings. | Supplemental |
| Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition. | Supplemental |
| Analyze data from computers or other digital media sources for evidence related to criminal activity. | Supplemental |
0.38/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus. | E2 structured facilities |
| Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity. | E0 none |
| Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints. | E0 none |
| Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred. | E0 none |
| Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations. | E0 none |
| Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases. | E0 none |
| Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes. | E0 none |
| Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence. | E2 structured facilities |
| Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions. | E0 none |
| Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers. | E0 none |
| Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings. | E0 none |
| Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 20K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 23K
- Change (2025–35)
- +13.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $72,060
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21312 | 의료과학 시험원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3119Physical and Engineering Science Technicians Not Elsewhere Classified
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This unit group covers physical and engineering science technicians not classified elsewhere in Minor Group 311: Physical and Engineering Science Technicians. For instance, the unit group includes those who assist scientists and engineers engaged in developing procedures or conducting research on safety, biomedical, environmental or industrial and production engineering.
Tasks
- In such cases tasks would include -
- (a) collecting data and providing technical assistance regarding: efficient, safe and economic utilization of personnel, material and equipment; methods of work and sequence of operations and supervision of their implementation; and efficient layout of plant or establishment;
- (b) aiding in the identification of potential hazards and introducing safety procedures and devices;
- (c) modifying and testing equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental pollution, site remediation and land reclamation;
- (d) assisting in the development of environmental pollution remediation devices under the direction of an engineer;
- (e) assisting engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.
Example occupations
Engineering technician (production) · Fire investigator · Forensic science technician · Quantity surveying technician · Robotics technician · Time and motion study technician
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- graphologistESCO 2643.1This occupation is broader
Graphologists analyse written or printed materials in order to draw conclusions and evidence about traits, personality, abilities and authorship of the writer. They interpret letter forms, the fashion of writing, and patterns in the writing.
- criminal investigatorESCO 3355.1Overlapping, not the same
Criminal investigators examine and process the scenes of crimes and the evidence found in them. They handle and protect the evidence compliant with rules and regulations, and isolate the scene from outside influence. They photograph the scene, ensure the maintenance of the evidence, and write reports.
- police detectiveESCO 3355.2Overlapping, not the same
Police detectives gather and compile evidence which assists them in the solution of crimes. They use investigative techniques to gather evidence, and interview all parties connected to their line of enquiry, and cooperate with other police department divisions to gather the evidence.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| K1721 | Technicien / Technicienne en investigation criminelle | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 3121 | Técnicos en ciencias físicas y químicas | Related, not a match |
| 3129 | Otros técnicos de las ciencias físicas, químicas, medioambientales y de las ingenierías | Related, not a match |
| 3631 | Técnicos de la policía nacional, autonómica y local | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 41384 | Berufe in der Chemie (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 53223 | Berufe im Kriminaldienst - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 53224 | Berufe im Kriminaldienst - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 051 | 自然科学系研究者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 249 | 他に分類されない専門的職業従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 441 | 警察官 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources