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 grow 0.2% through 2035, with about 7,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 33-3021
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Police Identification and Records Officer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $93,790a year, or $45.09/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $55KTop 10% $161K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.2%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,800120,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025120.5K
- Projected 2035120.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 120.5K Projected 2035 120.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school34.6%
- Certificate1.2%
- Some college28.5%
- Associate's10.8%
- Bachelor's24.9%
Highest education held by police identification and records officers Segment Value High school 34.6% Certificate 1.2% Some college 28.5% Associate's 10.8% Bachelor's 24.9%
Also advertised as: Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), Crime Scene Technician, Criminalist, Evidence Technician (Evidence Tech), Field Identification Specialist.
Pay
How much do police identification and records officers make?
Police Identification and Records Officers earn a median of $93,790 a year ($45.09 an hour, or about $7,820 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $55,390 and the top 10% more than $160,540 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $160,760. See Police identification and records officer salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Brunswick ($148,490 average): salary in every city.
Every police identification and records officer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$93,790
Middle half earn $69,330 to $120,520
- 10th
- $55,390
- 25th
- $69,330
- 75th
- $120,520
- 90th
- $160,540
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,390 |
| 25th | $69,330 |
| Median | $93,790 |
| 75th | $120,520 |
| 90th | $160,540 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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 $74,060, this is 27% 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 68% of the 1,741 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.
Pay by state
Which states pay police identification and records officers the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $160,760 | $146,277 | 2,980 |
| 2Maryland | $126,730 | $120,742 | 1,010 |
| 3California | $124,840 | $112,753 | 12,610 |
| 4Delaware | $122,050 | $122,285 | 140 |
| 5New Jersey | $116,300 | $106,888 | 3,080 |
| 6Washington | $115,790 | $108,202 | 1,850 |
| 7Alaska | $114,940 | $112,291 | 140 |
| 8Hawaii | $113,940 | $103,628 | 440 |
| 9Virginia | $112,760 | $111,529 | 3,180 |
| 10Massachusetts | $110,150 | $104,154 | 1,300 |
Job outlook
Is police identification and records officer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | +0.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Police Identification and Records Officers to change 0.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,800 openings are projected each year, 6.5% of the 120,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, 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.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
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 Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)34.6%
- Some College Courses28.5%
- Bachelor's Degree24.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 34.6% |
| Some College Courses | 28.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 24.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 10.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
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.
Working conditions and hours
Most police and detectives work full time. Paid overtime is common, and shift work is necessary to protect the public at all times.
FBI special agents must work at least 50 hours a week and are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Instructing2.9
- Persuasion2.8
- Service Orientation2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
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.
The workforce
Who works as a police identification and records officer?
Women make up 31.6% of police identification and records officers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
Only 16.1% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 41.7 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 31.6%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 41.7All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 16.1%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 155,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of police identification and records officers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 31.6% | 47.1% |
| White | 79.9% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 3.6% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 16.1% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 3.9% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a police identification and records officer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Police Identification and Records Officer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
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.
- Conventional5.6
- Realistic4.8
- Investigative3.7
- Enterprising2.9
- Social2.0
- Artistic1.6
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Police Identification and Records Officer
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Business and Financial Operations
- Protective Service
- Business and Financial Operations
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with police identification and records officers highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- Police Identification and Records Officer$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| Police Identification and Records Officer | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Police Identification and Records Officer appears on
Questions
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.
How much do police identification and records officers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for police identification and records officers is $45.09 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $93,790 annual median works out to about $7,820 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a police identification and records officer?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of police identification and records officers earn less than $55,390 a year and the bottom quarter less than $69,330 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do police identification and records officers make $100k?
Some do. $100,000 sits between the median ($93,790) and the 75th percentile ($120,520), so roughly a quarter to a half of police identification and records officers earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 16 states the median itself is above $100,000: District of Columbia ($160,760), Maryland ($126,730), California ($124,840), Delaware ($122,050), and 12 more.
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 kind of police identification and records officer earns the most?
BLS does not split police identification and records officers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $160,540, against a median of $93,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($160,760), Maryland ($126,730), California ($124,840).
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 or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a police identification and records officer?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for police identification and records officers is a high school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is police identification and records officer a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.2% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). 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.
Do police identification and records officers work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 38% of police identification and records officers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 62% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 62% say their schedule is regular and 38% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
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 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of police identification and records officers are women?
Women make up 31.6% of police identification and records officers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. Only 16.1% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 41.7 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.