How much does a background check cost you as a job applicant? Usually nothing, because the employer pays the screening company for a pre hire check; the price the employer pays depends on how many searches are included, how many counties and states are covered, and add ons such as fingerprints, a drug test, education checks abroad or rush service. You only pay when you order your own records or when a license, volunteer role or certain contract work asks you to.
So how much is a background check in numbers? We do not list prices on this site, because they change by state, agency and package. Instead, here is what drives the background check cost up, who covers it, and how to get some copies at no cost.
Quick answers
Job applicant
The employer normally pays for the hiring screen.What raises the cost
More counties and states, fingerprints, drug tests, verifications, records abroad, rush.When you pay
Your own state or FBI record, some licenses, some volunteer or contract roles.Free copies
Your credit reports, many online court searches, a report copy after adverse action.Red flag
Being asked to pay before any interview or real offer.
How much does a background check cost, and who pays?
| Situation | Who usually pays |
|---|---|
| Private employer hiring you | The employer |
| Federal agency or contractor | The agency or contractor |
| Licensed care or school role, or child care | Often the employer; some programs charge the applicant |
| Professional license (nursing, real estate, security) | Usually you, as part of the license application |
| Volunteering with children | Varies; some groups cover it, others ask volunteers |
| Some independent contractor platforms | Varies; read the terms before you sign up |
| Your own record check | You, though some sources are free |
Do you have to pay for a background check for a regular job? In most hiring, no. If a hiring company wants you to cover the fee, find out whether it will repay you once you start.
What makes a check cost more
When I set up screening packages for a hiring team, these were the things that changed the bill:
| Factor | Why it adds cost |
|---|---|
| Number of counties searched | Each county court is a separate search, and some courts charge access fees |
| Number of states lived in | Statewide searches and state repository fees multiply |
| Names used | Each former name may be searched separately |
| Fingerprints | Capture fees plus state and FBI processing fees |
| Drug test | Lab work and collection; larger test panels cost more |
| Employment and education verifications | Each one is a separate request, and some schools charge to confirm degrees |
| Records or schools abroad | Foreign agencies and partners add fees and time |
| Driving record | States charge for motor vehicle reports |
| Credit report | An added report for finance roles |
| Rush service or ongoing monitoring | Faster handling or repeat checks cost extra |
That is why the cost of a background check varies so much. A basic county criminal search for a local applicant is the low end, and a fingerprint check plus verifications for someone who lived in several states and studied abroad is the high end. The parts of each package are on types of checks.
The cost of checking your own record
If you order your own records, you pay each agency's own fee, which differs by state and by how you apply.
- State criminal history: each state's records office sets it; some charge more for fingerprint based requests.
- County court records: many online searches cost nothing, while certified copies usually carry a clerk's fee.
- FBI Identity History Summary: a processing fee goes to the FBI, and a fingerprint site may charge for taking prints. Check the FBI's site for current amounts.
- Driving record: your state motor vehicle agency sets the fee.
Step by step instructions are in the self check guide.
Copies you can get at no cost
- Credit files kept by the three big credit bureaus, via the federally backed annual report site the FTC points to.
- The report behind a rejection. When a screening report led to a no, the vendor that made it owes you a copy at no charge, as long as you ask within 60 days.
- Fixing errors. Challenging a wrong entry costs nothing; the vendor has to recheck it.
Federal rules also give a free file in some other situations, such as when you are unemployed and plan to look for work soon. The CFPB explains these rights on its site, consumerfinance.gov.
Why some sites advertise very cheap checks
Buy a cheap online report to see what an employer will find. Instant people search reports rely on data that may be old or tied to someone else entirely, and most of those sites say they cannot be used for hiring.
Go to the courts and the state records office directly. They cost more time, but they are what an employer's screen is built on.
Paying for a check: scam warning signs
Be careful if a so called employer asks you to pay for a background check before any interview, by gift card, wire transfer or payment app, or through a link sent by text. Real employers usually pay for screening themselves and use a known screening company with a secure form.
A legitimate request comes after an offer, includes a standalone disclosure and asks for your written consent, as the FTC's guide describes. If someone asks for your Social Security number or bank details before an interview, stop and verify the company. More on the safe order of events is on the employment screening guide.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Who requires the check: the employer, a licensing board or a state program?
- Exactly which type is needed: name based or fingerprint, state or FBI?
- Will the employer pay or repay the cost after you start?
- Will they accept a recent result you already have?
This page explains how costs usually work, not every program's rules. Check the requiring agency's own page for its current fee, and ask a legal aid office if you believe you were charged unfairly.
Questions people ask
Do job applicants have to pay for a background check?
Usually no. The employer pays the screening company for a hiring check. You may pay for licenses, some volunteer roles or records you order yourself.
How much does a criminal background check cost?
It depends on the source and how many counties or states are searched. Agencies set their own fees, so check the state bureau or court for the current amount.
Why does a fingerprint check cost more?
It adds a fee to take your prints and fees from the state and the FBI to process them. Name based searches skip those steps.
Is a free background check on myself possible?
Some pieces are. Many county courts let you search online without paying, and your credit files come at no cost through the annual report site. Expect a fee from the state bureau and the FBI.
What is a low cost background check for employment?
For employers, a narrow package with fewer counties and no add ons costs less. For applicants, the cheapest route is usually free county searches and your free credit reports.
Can an employer make me pay for my background check?
Rules differ by state and job type. If you are asked to pay, ask why, request it in writing, and look up your state labor agency's rules.