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

What is a latent fingerprint examiner and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a latent fingerprint examiner. For example, did you know that they make an average of $22.59 an hour? That's $46,980 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 11% and produce 2,000 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreLatent Fingerprint ExaminerUS Average

Salary

3.7

Avg. Salary $46,980

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.98%

Asian 9.98%

Black or African American 11.39%

Hispanic or Latino 13.82%

Unknown 5.66%

White 58.17%

Gender

female 62.75%

male 37.25%

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 latent fingerprint examiner

Explore latent fingerprint examiner education requirements

Most common latent fingerprint examiner degrees

Bachelor's

60.3 %

Associate

22.4 %

High School Diploma

12.1 %

Start to develop specific latent fingerprint examiner skills

Skills	Percentages
Law Enforcement Agencies	18.49%
Afis	12.56%
Identification System	8.08%
Fingerprint Cards	8.01%
Latent Prints	6.76%

Complete relevant latent fingerprint examiner training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New latent fingerprint examiners 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 latent fingerprint examiner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real latent fingerprint examiner resumes.

Research latent fingerprint examiner duties and responsibilities

Bob provide computer expertise for DOD criminal, fraud, and counterintelligence investigations and analyzing all computer evidence.
Process weapons and improvise explosive devices (IEDs) for fingerprints and DNA for a laboratory in Afghanistan.
Conduct manual latent to latent and latent to known comparisons in order to determine maker of IED evidence and establish patterns.
Water and mold restoration including demolition, moisture and humidity readings.

Prepare your latent fingerprint examiner resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your latent fingerprint examiner 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 latent fingerprint examiner resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable latent fingerprint examiner resume templates

Build a professional latent fingerprint examiner 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 latent fingerprint examiner resume.