Digital Forensics Analysts Career, Salary and Skills
Digital Forensics Analysts have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $116,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 435,370. Wage data is published for 396 locations.
Occupation description
Conduct investigations on computer-based crimes establishing documentary or physical evidence, such as digital media and logs associated with cyber intrusion incidents. Analyze digital evidence and investigate computer security incidents to derive information in support of system and network vulnerability mitigation. Preserve and present computer-related evidence in support of criminal, fraud, counterintelligence, or law enforcement investigations.
O*NET code
15-1299.06
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$116,580
Hourly median
$56.05
Employment
435,370
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.50 | 3.38 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.12 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Duplicate digital evidence to use for data recovery and analysis procedures.
- Preserve and maintain digital forensic evidence for analysis.
- Adhere to legal policies and procedures related to handling digital media.
- Write reports, sign affidavits, or give depositions for legal proceedings.
- Perform forensic investigations of operating or file systems.
- Create system images or capture network settings from information technology environments to preserve as evidence.
- Maintain knowledge of laws, regulations, policies or other issuances pertaining to digital forensics or information privacy.
- Develop policies or requirements for data collection, processing, or reporting.
Technology
- AccessData FTK
- Amazon Simple Storage Service S3
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Apple iOS
- Apple macOS
- Bash
- Border Gateway Protocol BGP
- C
- C#
- C++
- Cisco Systems Cisco NetFlow Collection Engine
- Computer forensic software
- Enterprise application integration EAI software
Digital Forensics Analysts salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in CAMedian $134,440 · Employment 80,150
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in TXMedian $111,530 · Employment 57,020
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in GAMedian $104,610 · Employment 20,630
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $109,700 · Employment 20,060
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $127,360 · Employment 19,540
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in MDMedian $144,680 · Employment 19,060
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in DCMedian $156,590 · Employment 17,200
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in VAMedian $139,030 · Employment 17,000
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $161,700 · Employment 16,930
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $184,430 · Employment 16,680
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in New York, NYMedian $126,910 · Employment 16,230
- Digital Forensics Analysts Salary in NCMedian $104,850 · Employment 15,090
Related careers
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- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and TechniciansNational median $116,580
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and AnalystsNational median $81,100
- Database AdministratorsNational median $104,620
- Police Identification and Records OfficersNational median $93,790
- Computer Network ArchitectsNational median $134,050
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling InvestigatorsNational median $43,370
- Bioinformatics TechniciansNational median $81,490
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.