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Police Identification and Records Officers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $93,790 Median per year · $45.09/hr Most earn $55,390–$160,540

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
  • Interview survivors, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel.
  • Perform emergency work during off-hours.
  • Package, store and retrieve evidence.
  • Identify, compare, classify, and file fingerprints, using systems such as Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) or the Henry Classification System.
  • Coordinate or conduct instructional classes or in-services, such as citizen police academy classes and crime scene training for other officers.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 7,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals41.4%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service36.6%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals21.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Police Identification and Records Officer is usually not a straight-out-of-school job. Most people first earn a certificate, then spend about 1 to 2 years in related forensic or evidence work before moving into this role.

  1. High school diploma plus a certificate in forensic science, crime scene, or criminal justice

    6-12 months of training after high school

    A short certificate program teaches evidence handling, fingerprinting basics, and photography, which are the core skills for this job.

  2. Forensic Science Technician

    1-2 years

    Working in a crime lab or evidence unit gives you hands-on experience with collecting and processing evidence, which employers look for when hiring for identification work.

  3. Police Identification and Records Officer

    Ongoing

    You collect crime scene evidence, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for criminal and civil cases.

Where it can lead

  1. Detectives and Criminal Investigators

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move from processing evidence to leading investigations, interviewing people, and building cases, which usually requires proven experience in the field.

  2. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

    Several years in the field of experience first

    You take charge of a team, assign work, and oversee quality, which generally requires years of experience and strong leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and chemistryThese classes build the science background that crime scene and fingerprint work depend on.
  • Take any criminal justice or forensic science course your school offersIt gives you a first look at evidence handling and the justice system.
  • Join a science, debate, or mock trial clubThese groups build careful reasoning, observation, and clear writing, which all help in records and evidence work.
  • Volunteer or get a part-time job that involves organizing records or handling detail-heavy tasksCareful record-keeping is a direct part of this job, and it looks good on future applications.
  • Ask a local police or crime lab professional for a short informational interviewHearing how the job really works helps you decide if it fits you.

In college

  • Major in forensic science, criminal justice, or a lab scienceThese majors or minors give you the knowledge and credentials that employers and certificate programs expect.
  • Apply for an internship with a police department, crime lab, or prosecutor's officeHands-on experience with evidence and records is the most direct way to meet the 1 to 2 years of experience this career usually needs.
  • Look for a campus job in a lab, library records office, or campus securityThese jobs build organization, documentation, and attention-to-detail skills while you study.
  • Enroll in a fingerprinting, crime scene photography, or evidence handling certificate programA certificate is typically the formal training this career expects, and it can be completed alongside your studies or after graduation.
  • Join a forensic science or criminal justice student clubClubs offer networking, guest speakers from the field, and a way to learn about job openings.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for entry-level evidence, records, or lab support jobs at police departments or crime labs, even as a clerk or assistant. Experience there counts toward this career.
  • Learn to take clear, well-organized notes and photos. Attention to detail matters a lot in this work.
  • Check whether your state or local agency has its own requirements for crime scene or fingerprint certification, since rules vary by place. Ask a local agency or your school counselor.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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