How To Become A Fingerprint Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a fingerprint technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

When it comes to the daily routines of a fingerprint technician, it's more than just checking people's fingerprints in a database. Fingerprint technicians need to consult and review these databases often. They then use this information to assist local authorities, forensic analysts, and even greater law enforcement. Contributions to security systems could span from local airports to national investigations.

Companies may require a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, business, or a similar field. However, some may only require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. One should also possess at least a year of experience in law enforcement, government assistance, or a similar area. Fingerprint technicians are typically an hourly position and they can make between $12 - $16 per hour, or up to $33,280 annually. Biometric data is rapidly expanding and growing field, and as such job growth in the U.S. is expected to increase approximately 14% by 2029.

ScoreFingerprint TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,867

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.98%

Asian 10.53%

Black or African American 9.37%

Hispanic or Latino 16.58%

Unknown 5.69%

White 56.85%

Gender

female 64.33%

male 35.67%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a fingerprint technician

Explore fingerprint technician education requirements

Most common fingerprint technician degrees

Bachelor's

39.9 %

Associate

26.2 %

High School Diploma

19.8 %

Start to develop specific fingerprint technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	33.64%
Citizenship	25.32%
USCIS	19.71%
Fingerprint Cards	3.24%
Process Applicants	3.15%

Complete relevant fingerprint technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fingerprint technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fingerprint technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fingerprint technician resumes.

Research fingerprint technician duties and responsibilities

Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
Evaluate ink fingerprints for accuracy and assign fingerprint pattern for entry into AFIS.
Compare fingerprints in the AFIS system to fingerprints on file matching core and minutia.
Transform a drug chemistry laboratory suite into a forensic biology and DNA training suite.

Prepare your fingerprint technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fingerprint technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fingerprint technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable fingerprint technician resume templates

Build a professional fingerprint technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your fingerprint technician resume.