# Police Identification and Records Officers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/police-identification-and-records-officers
- SOC code: 33-3021.02
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $93,790 (10th percentile $55,390, 90th percentile $160,540)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.2%
- Openings a year: 7,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Detectives and criminal investigators".

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 64 |
| Investigative (I) | 45 |
| Artistic (A) | 10 |
| Social (S) | 16 |
| Enterprising (E) | 32 |
| Conventional (C) | 77 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 72/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 69/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Law and Government, Administrative, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Biology, Mathematics

## Also called

Accident Examiner, Accident Investigator, Accident Reconstructionist, Community Service Officer, Computer Forensic Examiner, Computer Forensic Specialist, Corrections Identification Technician, Crime Lab Analyst (Crime Laboratory Analyst), Crime Scene Evidence Technician, Crime Scene Examiner

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Criminal Justice and Corrections](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4301) (CIP 4301, 1,742 colleges)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2902) (CIP 2902, 85 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegesref.com/college/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph-380) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,078 | $106,465 | $20,417 |
| [Champlain College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/champlain-college-508) | Security Science and Technology | $68,425 | $101,401 | $28,520 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Security Science and Technology | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Security Science and Technology | $60,178 | $93,841 | $15,125 |
| [Robert Morris University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/robert-morris-university-2246) | Security Science and Technology | $64,104 | $90,206 | $26,000 |
| [Mercyhurst University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mercyhurst-university-1646) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $52,770 | $86,597 | $25,000 |
| [Norwich University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/norwich-university-1970) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $77,627 | $85,184 | not reported |
| [Maryville University of Saint Louis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/maryville-university-of-saint-louis-1610) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $63,584 | $84,342 | $23,911 |

## Related careers

- [Forensic Science Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forensic-science-technicians): $72,060 median pay
- [Detectives and Criminal Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/detectives-and-criminal-investigators): $93,790 median pay
- [Private Detectives and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/private-detectives-and-investigators): $51,220 median pay
- [Coroners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coroners): $80,730 median pay
- [Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/intelligence-analysts): $93,790 median pay
- [Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fraud-examiners-investigators-and-analysts): $81,100 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.