By: Kendall Upton
Updated: January 14, 2026
Learn how to become a forensic fingerprint expert
In forensics, some professionals focus solely on the collection and analysis of fingerprints. Known generally as forensic fingerprint experts, these professionals work behind the scenes to collect, process, analyze and compare fingerprints to keep fingerprint databases updated and, hopefully, find a match that could be the key to serving justice where justice is due.
There are numerous different ways someone can get into the field of forensic fingerprinting, so it’s best to have a firm understanding of what this specialty is all about in order to figure out the best pathway for you based on your unique education and experience.
In this article
What are forensic fingerprint experts?
Forensic fingerprint experts are a type of forensic science professional that specialize in collecting fingerprints. Michele Triplett, the Forensic Operation Manager and Quality Manager for King County, Washington and a Certified Latent Print Examiner, said that there are two kinds of fingerprint experts.
“One is known as a tenprint examiner (TPE) and the other is a latent print examiner (LPE). TPEs compare prints taken intentionally, like for employment, concealed weapon permits or arrest records. Tenprint records are usually clearer since they are taken intentionally and usually consist of all ten fingers,” Triplett said.
Since they are taken intentionally, tenprint examiners take either patent or plastic fingerprints:
- Patent fingerprints:
- These are impressions made by things like blood, grease, ink or dirt and are visible to the human eye. They can be taken intentionally, or they may be left behind at a crime scene.
- Plastic fingerprints:
- These are three-dimensional impressions often made with pliable materials like clay or wax.
“Latent print examiners compare prints left unintentionally, like items that are touched at a crime scene. Latent print impressions may be small fragments and may be distorted since they are left unintentionally,” Triplett said.
Latent prints are not visible to the naked eye—they are impressions left behind on surfaces from the sweat and oil on our skin. These kinds of prints can be made visible by dusting or fuming.
What do forensic fingerprint experts do?
Forensic fingerprint experts collect fingerprints, upload them into the appropriate databases and make visual comparisons between prints to try and find matches for various purposes. Most fingerprint experts work for law enforcement agencies at the local, county or state level.
Though each job can be a little different depending on the processes and procedures of individual agencies, forensic fingerprint experts typically have the following job duties:
“I compare latent prints found at crime scenes to tenprint records that have been taken intentionally for different reasons and are stored in databases. We have a local database in King County, Washington State has a database (as well as other states) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has a database,” Triplett said.
The King County local database has fingerprints from hundreds of thousands of people. If fingerprints are found at a crime scene, the latent print examiners run it through the local system first since the person has most likely been arrested before (and their prints, therefore, are already in the system). Then the database pulls the top matching candidates and it’s up to the fingerprint examiner to do a manual, visual comparison to find out who the print belongs to.
If the local database doesn’t come up with any potential matches, then they can run the fingerprints through the state system. If there are still no matches, then they can run them through the FBI’s system.
Triplett said that the benefit of having a local system is that it can connect to the larger state system, but surprisingly a lot of major cities don’t have one. She said that another benefit of the local system is that it can process fingerprints a lot faster. That’s one of the major things that has changed about the field over time—just how long it takes to process fingerprints in a computer system.
“When I first started in the 1990s, we’d run a print through the system, you put the print in and you’d come back two or three days later and check it because that’s how long it took to sort through all those cards. Now it’s literally within minutes.”
Fingerprints in these systems aren’t exclusively from people who have been arrested. People who have applied for jobs within local government, have applied for a gun permit, adopted a child—these kinds of fingerprints can wind up in the local systems too. The same goes for latent prints as well.
“If I took a latent print and entered it into the system and it didn’t give me anything back, okay, the person might not have been fingerprinted before, but the latent print stays in the system,” Triplett said. “That doesn’t mean the person committed a crime—if your house is burglarized and they find a latent print, it could be a relative that was at your house last week, for example. And then if for some reason they get their fingerprints taken, then it’ll pop up as an identification. So the system works both ways, known fingerprints and latent fingerprints, and they cross reference each other.”
A day in the life of a fingerprint expert
Comparing fingerprints under a microscope to try and catch killers may sound like a glamorous job straight out of a police procedural, but Triplett said it’s not nearly as exciting as it sounds. In reality, fingerprint experts spend a lot of time in the lab processing fingerprints, uploading them and doing comparisons. It can be quiet and tedious work punctuated by the occasional “Aha!” moment.
“Each agency is a little different. For instance, if you work for a city, you are likely to only work cases from within that city. I work for King County so we work cases from 39 cities within the county. We receive latent prints that officers have collected from crime scenes, and we also receive evidence from crime scenes to process for latent prints,” Triplett said. “Some items can be easily processed at the scene but some materials need special chemicals that should only be used in a laboratory setting for safety.”
Latent print examiners may also be called out of the lab to help law enforcement officers process a crime scene.
“If only a window needs to be processed, for example, an officer can do that relatively quickly. But if a two-story house needs to be processed, that takes some time and because LPEs do this so often, we are more efficient at it so officers may call us for help,” Triplett said. “In King County, we are called to help process about five to 10 cases each day. So we may be out at a crime scene processing, we may be in the lab processing items of evidence and we may be at our desk comparing fingerprints from cases. We also testify in court to our findings, so we could be in court on any given day.”
Requirements to become a forensic fingerprint expert
There are no universal, standardized requirements to get into the forensic fingerprinting field. This can mean that there are many different routes you can take to get into this career, but it can also make it challenging to know what education and experience is truly essential.
Education paths
Many fingerprint jobs prefer candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in forensic science or something similar.
“There are college degrees in forensics, but they are generalized to all forensic disciplines. Once a person graduates, they may pick a particular discipline that interests them,” Triplett said. “Others may have science degrees, not necessarily in forensics, and may find an interest in forensics. All different degrees are beneficial to the discipline—chemistry, biology, criminalistics, statistics, writing, quality assurance, etc.”
Triplett said that many agencies require some science degree but there are also agencies that do not have this requirement. For these agencies, she said that getting your foot in the door and working your way up is the most common route.
“There are also classes at colleges, like Green River College, that teach fingerprinting. This helps applicants pass general knowledge tests to get their foot in the door.”
Gaining experience
Getting the right experience to become a forensic fingerprint professional can be tricky. There aren’t many jobs that can directly prepare you for the role, but there are a lot of professions that can help you develop the skills needed to succeed as a fingerprint expert, such as:
Although experience in these and similar roles can help, a lot of training for the role happens on the job. Some agencies may only accept applicants with a few years of experience, while others have internal training programs for novices.
If you’re struggling to get your foot in the door, you may consider searching for various training programs offered by reputable organizations like the International Association for Identification (IAI).
Getting certified
The IAI administers several different certifications for forensic professionals, including both a tenprint and latent print certification.
These are not entry-level certifications, meaning they can only be obtained after working in the field for some time. Still, they can be a great aspirational benchmark for fingerprint experts that want to validate their expertise and potentially qualify for more senior level roles that may prefer or require certification as a requisite for employment.
Is this career right for me?
Before setting yourself on the path to become a forensic fingerprinting expert, it’s imperative that you have a realistic understanding of what you’re in for. For example, Triplett said that some people expect to participate in thrilling detective work and are then disappointed when reality hits.
“Many people get into the discipline thinking they will be highly involved in cases, but the majority of the time we just get the latent prints and don’t really know the particulars about a case. It’s not important to what we’re doing and those who choose a career in fingerprints should be aware that it is not like television, we are not investigators and have little interaction with the investigators.”
In addition, forensic fingerprint experts should be prepared to testify in court, which can be intimidating for some.
“Typically, we are called to testify for the prosecution. Because of this, the prosecution may have more access to information than defense attorneys. If defense attorneys have questions, experts in any discipline may be leery to talk to them because they feel like the defense is looking for ammunition,” Triplett said. “The most challenging part is when the evidence is inconclusive, not strong enough to make an identification but too similar to exclude a person. That’s a part of the job but it’s difficult because the prosecution and the defense want answers. Sometimes the answers just aren’t that easy.”
Though challenging at times, working with defense attorneys can also be a positive thing, too.
“My favorite thing to do is to help defense attorneys understand the evidence,” Triplett said. “Errors are made, worldwide, and the defense needs to know how to spot errors. They can only do this if they are given good information.”
Essential skills for forensic fingerprint experts
Some soft skills which are essential for forensic fingerprint experts to succeed in their career include:
- Organization and attention to detail:
- “Organization is key,” Triplett said. “When you have a case with 100 latent prints and eight subjects to compare each latent print to (and 10 fingers on each of the eight suspects), that could be up to 8000 comparisons. Keeping organized and accurate notes is vital.”
- Ability to work independently:
- “You must have the ability to focus and work independently. It’s not a very social job. The best way to describe it is spending your day looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s not super exciting, but when you find the needle, there’s a huge sense of accomplishment.”
- Communication skills:
- Even though most of the job is spent working independently, Triplett said that you still need to have the social and communication skills needed to testify and explain things to laymen.
- Unbothered by biohazards:
- “This is probably not a career for those that are squeamish, there could be a lot of biohazards and strong odors that one is exposed to daily,” Triplett said.
Forensic fingerprint expert salaries
There isn’t a whole lot of reliable data available that indicates how much forensic fingerprint experts make, but we can try to get a sense of their earning potential from data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to the 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the BLS, the median annual salary for forensic science technicians is $67,440. Some of the states with the highest median annual wages for this group of professionals include Illinois, California and Connecticut.
Forensic Science Technicians
10%$45,560
25%$53,310
50%$67,440Median
75%$88,710
90%$110,710
Median Hourly Wage$32
Job growth12.8%
Total Employment19,450
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $59,560 | $38,910 | $82,620 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | $45,590 | $109,850 |
| Arkansas | $46,210 | $39,680 | $62,370 |
| California | $96,850 | $61,380 | $137,020 |
| Colorado | $77,800 | $59,400 | $103,660 |
| Connecticut | $84,920 | $40,450 | $105,530 |
| Florida | $61,070 | $39,890 | $90,570 |
| Georgia | $58,500 | $39,060 | $83,600 |
| Idaho | $60,470 | $41,000 | $112,390 |
| Illinois | $117,590 | $57,590 | $147,370 |
| Indiana | $65,770 | $40,750 | $90,130 |
| Iowa | $63,650 | $34,240 | $97,220 |
| Kansas | $75,150 | $49,620 | $99,720 |
| Kentucky | $58,230 | $46,980 | $70,670 |
| Louisiana | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Maine | $68,710 | $44,470 | $74,320 |
| Maryland | $78,220 | $58,440 | $110,760 |
| Massachusetts | $75,210 | $60,560 | $105,010 |
| Michigan | $69,040 | $36,500 | $198,320 |
| Minnesota | $68,790 | $50,530 | $101,150 |
| Mississippi | $54,720 | $36,950 | $82,890 |
| Missouri | $64,700 | $45,360 | $87,420 |
| Montana | $78,610 | $38,470 | $97,670 |
| Nebraska | $63,390 | $45,140 | $80,080 |
| Nevada | $76,540 | $52,350 | $127,890 |
| New Jersey | $54,230 | $40,650 | $81,190 |
| New Mexico | $61,890 | $44,490 | $96,410 |
| New York | $78,170 | $60,680 | $101,370 |
| North Carolina | $50,460 | $42,720 | $77,720 |
| North Dakota | $74,470 | $54,410 | $95,680 |
| Ohio | $73,310 | $50,720 | $118,100 |
| Oklahoma | $64,990 | $43,990 | $95,690 |
| Oregon | $78,100 | $53,090 | $129,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,820 | $40,260 | $84,410 |
| South Carolina | $49,960 | $37,490 | $69,510 |
| South Dakota | $49,280 | $24,960 | $80,050 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | $45,830 | $127,040 |
| Texas | $55,830 | $40,290 | $79,900 |
| Utah | $64,430 | $45,960 | $88,940 |
| Vermont | $67,750 | $54,680 | $91,540 |
| Virginia | $62,860 | $46,900 | $107,210 |
| Washington | $77,650 | $58,090 | $103,650 |
| West Virginia | $59,930 | $38,190 | $80,550 |
| Wisconsin | $61,920 | $50,210 | $95,470 |
| Wyoming | $60,670 | $45,870 | $88,510 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Forensic fingerprinting: then and now
Multiple facets of forensic science have evolved by leaps and bounds in the past few decades. Tests and analyses that once would have taken days, weeks or months can now be performed in a fraction of that time.
“A long time ago, if you arrested somebody in the jail today and you took their fingerprints, they didn’t link up automatically to all those other systems. Every system was separate,” Triplett said. “We’d actually have to take, say, five fingerprint cards and send them to different agencies and end up mailing hundreds of cards to the FBI. And that would take months for them to get them in their system.”
Then the FBI might send a letter back saying, for example, that the person was arrested in another state under a different name, but by that time they might already be out of jail with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of warrants out for their arrest. “Nowadays they can find that information out in minutes.”
Triplett also described the infamous example of Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer, who murdered dozens of women in the Seattle area in the 1980s and 1990s. Most of his victims were either sex workers or underage runaways who didn’t have proper ID on them, which made identifying the victims by fingerprints an inordinately long process. In fact, it was the case of the Green River Killer that was used to push for a local fingerprint system in King County. Had a localized fingerprint database been in place at that time, there’s no telling whether Ridgway might have been caught sooner.
How will jobs fare in the future?
As science and tech get more and more sophisticated and automated, it’s natural to wonder whether this might hinder job growth as time goes on.
“They always say that with technology jobs will be lost, but the truth is we keep growing more and more,” Triplett said. “We need more jobs because we can get so much more work done.”
Data from the BLS backs this up: they estimate that the employment of forensic science technicians will grow 12.8% through 2034, faster than the average of all occupations.
Final say
Working as a forensic fingerprint expert could be a fantastic career path for someone that is fascinated by forensic science and wants to play a crucial role in the criminal justice system. Even though they aren’t involved with cases directly, the work performed by forensic fingerprint experts is an essential component of keeping communities safe.
There are many different pathways to becoming a forensic fingerprint expert, but getting the right educational foundation under your belt is a good place to start. Consider earning a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as forensic science, biology, chemistry or criminal justice, to name a few. From there, it’s all about getting your foot in the door and finding an agency that can train you internally or finding a closely affiliated job that can expose you to the field.