Cybersecurity30% remote-eligible+7.5% YoY growth

Digital Forensics Analyst Salary
by City (2026)

Investigate cybercrime, recover digital evidence, and support legal proceedings. National median: $98K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$98K

Top 10% earn

$162K

Entry level

$75K

Salary growth

+7.5%/yr

Digital Forensics Analyst salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$124K	$162K	$211K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$119K	$155K	$202K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$112K	$146K	$190K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$111K	$145K	$189K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$111K	$145K	$189K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$111K	$145K	$189K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$107K	$139K	$182K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$107K	$139K	$182K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$106K	$138K	$180K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$105K	$137K	$179K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$103K	$135K	$177K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$103K	$135K	$177K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$103K	$134K	$175K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$103K	$134K	$175K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$101K	$133K	$173K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$101K	$132K	$173K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$101K	$132K	$173K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$100K	$130K	$170K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$99K	$129K	$169K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$99K	$129K	$168K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$98K	$127K	$166K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$97K	$126K	$165K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$96K	$125K	$164K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$96K	$125K	$163K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$96K	$125K	$163K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$95K	$123K	$161K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$95K	$123K	$161K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$92K	$121K	$158K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$92K	$120K	$156K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$92K	$120K	$157K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$92K	$120K	$156K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$92K	$120K	$157K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$92K	$120K	$157K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$89K	$116K	$151K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$89K	$116K	$151K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$89K	$116K	$151K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$86K	$113K	$147K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$86K	$113K	$147K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$86K	$113K	$147K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$86K	$113K	$147K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$86K	$113K	$147K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$86K	$113K	$147K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$86K	$113K	$147K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$85K	$111K	$145K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$84K	$110K	$143K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$84K	$110K	$143K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$84K	$110K	$143K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$84K	$110K	$143K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$84K	$110K	$143K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$84K	$110K	$143K	106	6.8%
Nashua, NH	$84K	$110K	$144K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$84K	$109K	$143K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$83K	$108K	$141K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$83K	$108K	$141K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$83K	$108K	$141K	102	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	4.25%
Provo, UT	$83K	$108K	$141K	100	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$83K	$108K	$141K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$82K	$108K	$141K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$83K	$108K	$141K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$81K	$106K	$138K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$81K	$106K	$138K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$81K	$106K	$138K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$81K	$106K	$138K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$81K	$106K	$138K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$81K	$106K	$138K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$81K	$106K	$138K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$80K	$105K	$137K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$80K	$104K	$136K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$80K	$104K	$136K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$80K	$104K	$136K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$80K	$104K	$136K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$80K	$104K	$136K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$80K	$104K	$136K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$79K	$103K	$134K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$79K	$103K	$134K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$79K	$103K	$134K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$79K	$103K	$134K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$79K	$103K	$134K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$79K	$103K	$134K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$79K	$103K	$134K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$79K	$103K	$134K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$78K	$102K	$134K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$78K	$102K	$134K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$78K	$102K	$134K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$78K	$102K	$134K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$78K	$102K	$134K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$77K	$101K	$131K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$77K	$101K	$131K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$77K	$100K	$131K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$77K	$100K	$131K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$77K	$100K	$131K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$77K	$100K	$131K	88	5%
Overland Park, KS	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$76K	$100K	$130K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$75K	$99K	$129K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$75K	$98K	$128K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$75K	$98K	$128K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$75K	$98K	$128K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$75K	$98K	$128K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$75K	$98K	$128K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$75K	$98K	$128K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$74K	$97K	$127K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$74K	$96K	$125K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$74K	$96K	$125K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$74K	$96K	$125K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$74K	$96K	$125K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$73K	$95K	$125K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$73K	$95K	$125K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$73K	$95K	$125K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$73K	$95K	$125K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$73K	$95K	$125K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	4.95%
Cincinnati, OH	$72K	$94K	$123K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$72K	$94K	$123K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$72K	$94K	$123K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$72K	$94K	$123K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$71K	$93K	$122K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$71K	$93K	$122K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$71K	$93K	$122K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$71K	$93K	$122K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$71K	$93K	$122K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$70K	$92K	$120K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$69K	$90K	$118K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$69K	$90K	$118K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$69K	$90K	$118K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$69K	$90K	$118K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$69K	$90K	$118K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$69K	$90K	$118K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$68K	$89K	$116K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$67K	$88K	$115K	78	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$68K	$88K	$115K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$67K	$88K	$115K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$68K	$88K	$115K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$67K	$88K	$115K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$68K	$88K	$115K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$67K	$88K	$115K	78	6%
Omaha, NE	$68K	$88K	$115K	88	5.84%
Jackson, MS	$67K	$88K	$115K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$67K	$88K	$115K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$66K	$86K	$113K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$66K	$86K	$113K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$66K	$86K	$113K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$66K	$86K	$113K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$66K	$86K	$113K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$66K	$86K	$113K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$66K	$86K	$113K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$66K	$86K	$113K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$66K	$86K	$113K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$66K	$86K	$113K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$66K	$86K	$113K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$66K	$86K	$113K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$64K	$83K	$109K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$64K	$83K	$109K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$64K	$83K	$109K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$61K	$80K	$105K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$61K	$80K	$105K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$60K	$78K	$102K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$56K	$74K	$96K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $98K Digital Forensics Analyst salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Digital Forensics Analyst Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Digital Forensics Analyst is $98,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $75,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $128,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Digital Forensics Analysts nationally earn $162,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS or Criminal Justice; CFCE/EnCE certification. This role is 30% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Digital Forensics Analyst compensation is growing at 7.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Digital Forensics Analysts significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Digital Forensics Analyst salary FAQ

How much does a Digital Forensics Analyst make?

The median Digital Forensics Analyst salary in the US is $98,000 per year — about $47/hour. Most earn between $75,000 (25th percentile) and $128,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Digital Forensics Analyst?

Entry-level Digital Forensics Analyst positions typically start around $75,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Digital Forensics Analysts earn?

The top 10% of Digital Forensics Analysts earn $162,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Digital Forensics Analysts the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Digital Forensics Analyst salary at $162K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Digital Forensics Analyst salaries going up?

Yes — Digital Forensics Analyst pay is growing about 7.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Digital Forensics Analyst Salaryby City (2026)