State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Police Identification and Records Officer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Police Identification and Records Officers is $93,790 a year ($45.09/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% through 2034, with about 7,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 33-3021Protective ServiceLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $93,790
- Projected growth
- -0.7%
- Openings a year
- 7,800
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), Crime Scene Technician, Criminalist, Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech), Field Identification Specialist.
How much do Police Identification and Records Officers make?
10th percentile$55,390
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$69,330
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$93,790
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$120,520
Upper quartile
90th percentile$160,540
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $93,790 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $45.09/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $99,430 |
| People employed | 114,430 |
Versus all US occupations
At $93,790, Police Identification and Records Officers earn 84% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $42,810 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $59,110, this is 59% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $160,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,390, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 74% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $160,760, and still leads at $146,277 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Police Identification and Records Officers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 | $146,277 | 2,980 |
| Maryland | $126,730 | $120,742 | 1,010 |
| California | $124,840 | $112,753 | 12,610 |
| Delaware | $122,050 | $122,285 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | $106,888 | 3,080 |
| Washington | $115,790 | $108,202 | 1,850 |
| Alaska | $114,940 | $112,291 | 140 |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | $103,628 | 440 |
| Virginia | $112,760 | $111,529 | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | $104,154 | 1,300 |
Is Police Identification and Records Officer a growing career?
Police Identification and Records Officers-0.7%
All US occupations3.1%
-0.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Police Identification and Records Officers to change -0.7% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,800 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 117,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of police and detectives varies by occupation (see table).
A desire for public safety may result in a need for more officers. However, demand for employment is expected to vary by location, driven largely by local and state budgets. Even when crime rates fall, demand for police services to maintain public safety is expected to continue.
How to become a Police Identification and Records Officer
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 a period of 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. A felony conviction or drug use may disqualify a candidate.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as police identification and records officers.
- High School Diploma34.6%
- Some College Courses28.5%
- Bachelor's Degree24.9%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)10.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1.2%
What does a Police Identification and Records Officer do?
Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.
Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of crimes.
Day-to-day tasks
- Testify in court and present evidence.
- Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.
- Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
- Package, store and retrieve evidence.
- Analyze and process evidence at crime scenes, during autopsies, or in the laboratory, wearing protective equipment and using powders and chemicals.
- Dust selected areas of crime scene and lift latent fingerprints, adhering to proper preservation procedures.
- Photograph crime or accident scenes for evidence records.
- Look for trace evidence, such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers, or shoe impressions, using alternative light sources when necessary.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Writing3.3/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Learning Strategies2.8/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
- Service Orientation2.8/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Police Identification and Records Officer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.8
Investigativeprimary3.7
Artistic1.6
Social2.0
Enterprising2.9
Conventionalprimary5.6
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Police Identification and Records Officer: frequently asked questions
How much do Police Identification and Records Officers make?
Police Identification and Records Officers earn a median of $93,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 84% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $45.09/hr. The middle half earn between $69,330 and $120,520. The top 10% earn $160,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Police Identification and Records Officer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Police Identification and Records Officers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 34.6% hold high school diploma.
Is Police Identification and Records Officer a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.7% over 2024–2034, a loss of 800 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 7,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Police Identification and Records Officer do?
Police officers protect lives and property. A core O*NET task: testify in court and present evidence. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Graphics or photo imaging software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Police Identification and Records Officers the most?
The highest state medians for Police Identification and Records Officers are District of Columbia ($160,760), Maryland ($126,730), California ($124,840) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Police Identification and Records Officer?
O*NET scores Police Identification and Records Officers highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.