Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Science and research / 19-4092.00

Forensic Science Technicians

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.

US jobs
19,120
Median wage
$72,060 a year
Job family
Science and research

Can agents do the work of forensic science technicians?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 43%Analyze biological or chemical substances or related dataNot measured
  • 10%Investigate criminal or legal mattersNot measured
  • 6%Present information in legal proceedingsNot measured
  • 6%Record images with photographic or audiovisual equipmentNot measured
  • 6%Train others on operational or work proceduresNot measured
  • 4%Prepare specimens or materials for testingNot measured
  • 4%Analyze data to improve operationsNot measured
  • 3%Present research or technical informationNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • CORE-Benchby Princeton UniversityTask level · CORE-Bench-Hard accuracy (public test set)
    95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025
    Solved

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
  • Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
  • Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
  • Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
  • Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
  • Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
  • Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
  • Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
  • Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
  • Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
  • Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
  • Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.
Other job titles for this occupation (50)

Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst) · Crime Scene Analyst (CSA) · Crime Scene Technician (Crime Scene Tech) · Criminalist · CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) · Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech) · Forensic Science Examiner · Forensic Scientist · Forensic Specialist · Latent Print Examiner · Ballistician · Ballistics Technician (Ballistics Tech) · Biometric Fingerprint Technician (Biometric Fingerprint Tech) · Biometric Fingerprinting Technician (Biometric Fingerprinting Tech) · Biometrician · Blood Splatter Analyst · Computer Forensics Technician (Computer Forensics Tech) · Crime Analyst · Crime Lab Technician (Crime Laboratory Technician) · Crime Scene Examiner · Crime Scene Specialist · Crime Specialist · Criminal Justice Technician · Criminalist Technician (Criminalist Tech) · Criminologist · Digital Forensics Analyst · DNA Analyst (Deoxyribonucleic Acid Analyst) · DNA Examiner (Deoxyribonucleic Acid Examiner) · DNA Tech (Deoxyribonucleic Acid Technician) · Evidence Specialist · Fingerprint Classifier · Fingerprint Technician (Fingerprint Tech) · Firearms Examiner · Firearms Specialist · Forensic Analyst · Forensic Computer Examiner · Forensic Document Examiner (FDE) · Forensic Examiner · Forensic Investigator · Forensic Lab Tech (Forensic Laboratory Technician) · Forensic Nurse Examiner · Forensic Science Technician (Forensic Science Tech) · Forensic Service Tech (Forensic Services Technician) · Forensic Technician (Forensic Tech) · Forensic Technologist · Forensic Toxicologist · Investigator · Latent Fingerprint Examiner · Latent Print Analyst · Trace Evidence Technician (Trace Evidence Tech)