Law Enforcement Workers

How to become a Police Identification and Records Officer

Official title: Police Identification and Records Officers

Also called: Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), Crime Scene Technician, Criminalist, Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech), Field Identification Specialist, Forensic Specialist, Identification Technician (Identification Tech), Latent Fingerprint Examiner, Police Officer

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

Main tasks

Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.
Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
Testify in court and present evidence.
Look for trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light sources when necessary.
Dust selected areas of crime scene and lift latent fingerprints, adhering to proper preservation procedures.
Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
Package, store and retrieve evidence.

How to become one

The education typically required to enter the occupation ranges from a high school diploma to a college degree. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency's training academy before completing on-the-job training. Other requirements vary, but candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $93,790 a year The middle half earn $69,330 to $120,520.
About 120,500 people work in this job now, and about 120,700 are projected by 2035. (+0.2%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Police Identification and Records Officer?

How much does a Police Identification and Records Officer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $93,790 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $69,330 to $120,520.

Is a Police Identification and Records Officer a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 120,500 people now and 120,700 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Police Identification and Records Officer?

Usually. 64% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Police Identification and Records Officer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.