Law & Government
Police Identification and Records Officers
Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.
Median salary (BLS)
$93,790
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$55k – $161k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 3 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $105,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Police Identification and Records Officers
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Police Identification and Records Officers
Entry / Junior
$55,390
~2 yrs to advance
Police Identification and Records Officers
Established
$93,790
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Police Identification and Records Officers
Senior
$127,165
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Law & Government
Explore all- Yale University5% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.