How Much Do Forensic Nurses Make?
Forensic nurses work with crime victims to gather medical evidence and provide expert testimony for court cases. This article explores forensic nurse salaries, including how much they can expect to make by state, city, and other factors.
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CCNE
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CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
What Is the Average Forensic Nurse Salary?
The median salary for all registered nurses (RNs) nationwide is $86,070 annually or $41.38 per hour (BLS). Forensic nurses earn $65,466 annually or $31 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter. Most forensic nurses make between $48,000 and $80,499, with top earners making $107,500 annually.
Forensic Nurse Salary by State
Location is one of the most influential factors in determining how much you can make as a forensic nurse. So how much does a forensic nurse make by state? It turns out that the highest-paying state for forensic nurses pays more than $20,000 more each year than the lowest.
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $72,632 | $6,052 | $1,396 | $34.92 |
| Vermont | $71,381 | $5,948 | $1,372 | $34.32 |
| California | $70,108 | $5,842 | $1,348 | $33.71 |
| Maine | $68,083 | $5,673 | $1,309 | $32.73 |
| Idaho | $67,352 | $5,612 | $1,295 | $32.38 |
| Washington | $66,827 | $5,568 | $1,285 | $32.13 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,520 | $5,543 | $1,279 | $31.98 |
| Massachusetts | $65,706 | $5,475 | $1,263 | $31.59 |
| Alaska | $65,290 | $5,440 | $1,255 | $31.39 |
| New Jersey | $65,048 | $5,420 | $1,250 | $31.27 |
| New Hampshire | $64,895 | $5,407 | $1,247 | $31.20 |
| Oregon | $64,545 | $5,378 | $1,241 | $31.03 |
| North Dakota | $64,480 | $5,373 | $1,240 | $31.00 |
| Wisconsin | $64,068 | $5,339 | $1,232 | $30.80 |
| Wyoming | $63,494 | $5,291 | $1,221 | $30.53 |
| Hawaii | $63,256 | $5,271 | $1,216 | $30.41 |
| Colorado | $62,915 | $5,242 | $1,209 | $30.25 |
| Indiana | $62,381 | $5,198 | $1,199 | $29.99 |
| Nevada | $61,734 | $5,144 | $1,187 | $29.68 |
| New Mexico | $61,563 | $5,130 | $1,183 | $29.60 |
| Minnesota | $61,477 | $5,123 | $1,182 | $29.56 |
| Arizona | $61,091 | $5,090 | $1,174 | $29.37 |
| South Dakota | $60,940 | $5,078 | $1,171 | $29.30 |
| Montana | $60,171 | $5,014 | $1,157 | $28.93 |
| Ohio | $59,875 | $4,989 | $1,151 | $28.79 |
| Rhode Island | $59,784 | $4,982 | $1,149 | $28.74 |
| Delaware | $59,673 | $4,972 | $1,147 | $28.69 |
| Alabama | $59,419 | $4,951 | $1,142 | $28.57 |
| Virginia | $59,025 | $4,918 | $1,135 | $28.38 |
| Connecticut | $58,617 | $4,884 | $1,127 | $28.18 |
| Iowa | $58,506 | $4,875 | $1,125 | $28.13 |
| Illinois | $58,063 | $4,838 | $1,116 | $27.91 |
| Mississippi | $57,985 | $4,832 | $1,115 | $27.88 |
| Maryland | $57,844 | $4,820 | $1,112 | $27.81 |
| Tennessee | $57,164 | $4,763 | $1,099 | $27.48 |
| Utah | $57,018 | $4,751 | $1,096 | $27.41 |
| Nebraska | $56,764 | $4,730 | $1,091 | $27.29 |
| Missouri | $56,005 | $4,667 | $1,077 | $26.93 |
| South Carolina | $55,438 | $4,619 | $1,066 | $26.65 |
| Georgia | $55,354 | $4,612 | $1,064 | $26.61 |
| Oklahoma | $54,971 | $4,580 | $1,057 | $26.43 |
| Texas | $54,899 | $4,574 | $1,055 | $26.39 |
| Kansas | $54,588 | $4,549 | $1,049 | $26.24 |
| North Carolina | $54,294 | $4,524 | $1,044 | $26.10 |
| Louisiana | $53,674 | $4,472 | $1,032 | $25.81 |
| Kentucky | $52,151 | $4,345 | $1,002 | $25.07 |
| Michigan | $52,131 | $4,344 | $1,002 | $25.06 |
| West Virginia | $51,374 | $4,281 | $987 | $24.70 |
| Arkansas | $49,546 | $4,128 | $952 | $23.82 |
| Florida | $48,988 | $4,082 | $942 | $23.55 |
Via ZipRecruiter
Forensic Nurse Salary by City
Your salary as a forensic nurse may also change depending on whether you live in a metropolitan or rural area. Some of the highest-paying cities to practice as a forensic nurse are as follows:
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolinas, CA | $87,333 | $7,277 | $1,679 | $41.99 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $83,435 | $6,952 | $1,604 | $40.11 |
| Mercer Island, WA | $81,611 | $6,800 | $1,569 | $39.24 |
| Belmont, CA | $81,195 | $6,766 | $1,561 | $39.04 |
| Bellefonte, DE | $80,417 | $6,701 | $1,546 | $38.66 |
| San Francisco, CA | $79,688 | $6,640 | $1,532 | $38.31 |
| New Hartford Center, CT | $79,397 | $6,616 | $1,526 | $38.17 |
| Millbourne, PA | $79,162 | $6,596 | $1,522 | $38.06 |
| Casa Blanca, AZ | $78,744 | $6,562 | $1,514 | $37.86 |
| Marysville, WA | $78,733 | $6,561 | $1,514 | $37.85 |
Via ZipRecruiter
Forensic Nurse Salary Factors
Forensic Nursing Salary by Years of Experience
Forensic nurses can earn a higher annual salary with increased years of experience.
- 1-4 years: $29.96 average hourly wage
- 5-9 years: $30.01 average hourly wage
Via Payscale
Forensic Nursing Salary by Work Setting
Generally, forensic nurses work in hospitals; however, they can work in several other locations, such as:
- Community anti-violence programs
- Coroner's and medical examiner’s offices
- Corrections institutions
- Communities after natural disasters
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Academia
There isn’t much data on how different industries impact forensic nurse salaries specifically. However, we can examine how overarching RN salaries change within these industries. The BLS query system provides industry-specific RN wage insights for many places where forensic nurses can work.
For example, RNs in academia make the most out of the industries listed. They have annual salaries of up to $71,550 at local government-owned colleges, universities, and professional schools. On the other hand, those at hospitals make $88,430.
Source: BLS, Date extracted: Aug 7, 2024
9 Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Forensic Nurse
You can increase your forensics nurse salary in a few ways:
- Earn a forensic nursing certificate
- Work night or weekend shifts that offer higher per-hour wages
- Advance your education by earning a Master’s in Forensic Nursing or higher
- Work per diem or become a travel forensic nurse
- Train to become a preceptor for new hires
- Become a charge nurse or nurse manager in your unit
- Climb the clinical ladder within the unit
- Participate in a unit or hospital-based committee
- Pick up overtime hours on your unit or in other parts of the hospital
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Forensic Nurse?
The cost of becoming a nurse can be overwhelming. However, scholarships, loans, and tuition reimbursement make it feasible for anyone interested in the field.
Remember, there is no one set cost for nursing school. Programs can range from a few thousand dollars to over $80,000 and even $100,000 at private or Ivy League nursing schools.
Forensic Nurse Salary vs Other Specialties
Forensic nurses earn an average of $65,466 annually or $31 per hour. Here’s how that compares to some other nursing specialties:
- Telemetry nurses: $87,048 per year, $42 per hour
- OB nurses: $83,242 per year, $40 per hour
- NICU nurses: $128,211 per year, $62 per hour
- Corporate nurses: $117,046 per year, $56 per hour
- ICU nurses: $85,205 per year, $41 per hour
Salaries via ZipRecruiter
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
