How Much is a Background Check? Everything You Need to Know

How much is a background check? It’s a question that can pose challenges when budgeting for new hires. Business owners often struggle to balance background check costs with budget constraints, and HR professionals must justify screening expenses to leadership while maintaining compliance. Job seekers, too, want transparency about what pre-employment background checks include and who bears the cost.

In this guide, we break down how much background checks cost, explain price variations between providers and states, and show you how to get reliable results without overpaying. You’ll learn which types of background checks deliver the most value for different roles and how to build a cost-effective verification strategy that protects your organization.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Types of Background Checks
   1. Basic Identity and Criminal Checks
   2. Criminal History Reports
   3. Credit Reports
   4. Driving Records
   5. Employment and Education Verification
   6. License and Certification Checks
   7. Social Media Screening
   8. Drug Screening
   9. International Background Checks
3. Why Would You Need a Background Check?
   1. Protecting Your Workplace
   2. Meeting Legal Requirements
   3. Reducing Business Risk
   4. Verifying Credentials
   5. Building Trust
   6. Making Informed Decisions
4. How Much Does a Background Check Cost?
   1. Search Depth
   2. Geographic Coverage
   3. Verification Requirements
   4. Turnaround Time
   5. Industry Requirements
   6. Hidden Costs
   7. Working With Background Check Providers
5. How Much Does a Federal Background Check Cost?
   1. Using a Background Check Company for Federal Checks
6. Background Check Costs by State
   1. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in California?
   2. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Texas?
   3. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Florida?
   4. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in New York?
   5. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Illinois?
   6. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Ohio?
7. Are Background Checks Worth It?
   1. Benefits Beyond Cost Saving
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs
10. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Types of Background Checks
   1. Basic Identity and Criminal Checks
   2. Criminal History Reports
   3. Credit Reports
   4. Driving Records
   5. Employment and Education Verification
   6. License and Certification Checks
   7. Social Media Screening
   8. Drug Screening
   9. International Background Checks
3. Why Would You Need a Background Check?
   1. Protecting Your Workplace
   2. Meeting Legal Requirements
   3. Reducing Business Risk
   4. Verifying Credentials
   5. Building Trust
   6. Making Informed Decisions
Show Full Guide
4. How Much Does a Background Check Cost?
   1. Search Depth
   2. Geographic Coverage
   3. Verification Requirements
   4. Turnaround Time
   5. Industry Requirements
   6. Hidden Costs
   7. Working With Background Check Providers
5. How Much Does a Federal Background Check Cost?
   1. Using a Background Check Company for Federal Checks
6. Background Check Costs by State
   1. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in California?
   2. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Texas?
   3. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Florida?
   4. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in New York?
   5. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Illinois?
   6. How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Ohio?
7. Are Background Checks Worth It?
   1. Benefits Beyond Cost Saving
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs
10. References

Key Takeaways

• Basic criminal background checks typically cost $20 to $40, while comprehensive employment screening packages can range from $50 to $200 per candidate.
• Pricing varies significantly by state and provider, with factors like search depth, geographic coverage, and turnaround time affecting total cost.
• Most background check expenses fall to employers, though some organizations may require candidates to cover specific screenings, such as drug tests.
• Working with a background checking agency often proves more cost-effective than conducting checks in-house, despite higher upfront fees.

Types of Background Checks

The scope and cost of any type of background check vary based on the information you need to verify. From basic identity checks to comprehensive executive screening, each type serves different hiring needs. Here’s what each check involves and its typical costs:

Basic Identity and Criminal Checks

A basic identity verification searches Social Security records and public databases to confirm a candidate’s identity and past addresses. This entry-level check includes a nationwide criminal record search but may miss recent records. When requesting these checks directly from state agencies, costs range from $10 to $25.

Criminal History Reports

A criminal history search can span county, state, and federal records.

• County searches often provide the most current data but require separate fees for each county, typically $10 to $20 per county searched.
• State repository searches through agencies like state police cost $20 to $40.
• Federal searches reveal crimes prosecuted in federal courts, like interstate drug trafficking or federal fraud charges, and cost $10 to $30.

Credit Reports

Financial background checks pull credit history data to evaluate credit history, bankruptcies, accounts in collections, and payment patterns. These checks prove valuable for fiscal management roles or handling sensitive financial information. When ordered directly from credit bureaus for employment purposes, these reports cost $25 to $50 per check.

Driving Records

Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checks show license status, accidents, violations, and DUI convictions. Organizations hiring drivers or employees who operate company vehicles rely on MVR reports to assess driving history and verify appropriate licensing. State DMV fees range from $5 to $20 per record.

Employment and Education Verification

Employment history checks confirm past work experience and job titles, while education verifications validate degrees, certifications, and attendance dates. The cost increases with the number of employers or institutions that need verification. Direct verification typically costs $10 to $25 per contact.

License and Certification Checks

Verification of professional licenses confirms credentials are valid and in good standing with state licensing boards and certification bodies. Fees vary by profession and licensing body but typically range from $15 to $40 per license checked.

Social Media Screening

Professional social media background checks review publicly available online content and follow strict guidelines to avoid discrimination while identifying potential red flags. They can be performed in-house or through a third-party background check provider and cost around $10 to $30.

Drug Screening

Drug testing costs depend on the type and number of substances screened. Basic five-panel tests at clinics cost around $30 to $60, while comprehensive 10-panel screens can exceed $100. Some employers require candidates to pay for initial drug screening.

International Background Checks

International background screening involves searching records across multiple countries. Costs vary due to record access rules and requirements and further increase based on the number of countries searched and the types of documents needed. They often range from $100 to $300 per country.

Why Would You Need a Background Check?

A well-structured background check process plays multiple roles in modern hiring. Organizations run screenings to make informed decisions, protect their teams, meet legal obligations, and find any background check red flags quickly.

Protecting Your Workplace

Reports indicate that 35% of Americans have lied when applying for a job. Background screenings help ensure candidates have presented themselves honestly during the hiring process.

Companies can use these checks to maintain workplace safety by identifying concerning patterns of behavior, verifying qualifications that impact safety protocols, and confirming candidates can legally perform required duties.

Meeting Legal Requirements

Many industries have strict regulations regarding employee screening. For example, transportation companies need to verify commercial driver qualifications and financial institutions must often run credit checks on employees who handle money.

Reducing Business Risk

Each bad hire costs a company an average of $17,000 through expenses like recruitment costs, training investments, lost productivity, and potential legal issues. Beyond direct costs, poor hiring choices can damage team morale, hurt productivity, and expose organizations to legal liability through workplace safety incidents and data security breaches. Background checks help minimize these risks.

Verifying Credentials

Professional background screening helps confirm the following:

• Work experience claims
• Educational achievements
• Required certifications
• Skills and qualifications

Verifying these credentials is important for maintaining quality standards, ensuring regulatory compliance, protecting the company’s reputation, and confirming candidates can safely and effectively perform essential job functions.

Building Trust

Thorough screening demonstrates a commitment to maintaining high professional standards, which builds confidence among employees, customers, and investors. For roles involving sensitive work or vulnerable populations, background checks provide essential peace of mind.

Making Informed Decisions

Background screenings provide objective data to support hiring choices. This helps you:

• Compare candidates fairly
• Assess potential risks
• Ensure role fit
• Document due diligence
• Create consistent hiring standards

How Much Does a Background Check Cost?

Costs vary significantly depending on whether you work directly with state agencies and courthouses or partner with a background check service. While accessing records directly may have lower per-search fees, it demands significantly more staff time and expertise to compile complete reports.

In summary, expect to pay:

• Basic criminal check: $20 to $40 per background check
• Standard employment screening package: $50 to $150 per background check
• Comprehensive executive background check: $200 to $500+ per background check

However, these broad ranges only tell part of the story. Multiple factors shape the final cost of a background report.

Search Depth

Searches for county-level criminal convictions often cost $10 to $20 per county searched. Searching multiple counties increases costs but provides more complete results. National database searches might cost less but may miss recent records.

Geographic Coverage

Local checks typically cost less than national searches. International background screening involves significantly higher fees due to complex verification processes and varying international regulations.

Verification Requirements

Direct calls to verify employment history or education credentials add $10 to $25 per contact. Depending on the credentialing body, professional license verification ranges from $15 to $40 per license.

Turnaround Time

Standard processing takes two to five business days. Rush services can double or triple base costs. Some instant database searches cost less but may provide incomplete information.

Industry Requirements

Regulated industries often need specific screenings:

• Healthcare: OIG sanctions checks ($10 to $20)
• Transportation: DOT-compliant drug screens ($60 to $100)
• Financial services: Credit reports ($25 to $50)
• Education: Sex offender registry searches ($10 to $15)

Hidden Costs

Watch for additional fees like:

• Access fees for court records
• Convenience fees for electronic delivery
• Setup charges for new accounts
• Compliance monitoring services
• Integration costs with HR systems

Working With Background Check Providers

While accessing records directly through government agencies offers lower per-search fees, most employers work with professional background check providers. These companies offer:

• Streamlined access to multiple record sources
• Built-in compliance with screening laws
• Consistent quality standards
• Faster turnaround times
• Integration with HR systems
• Dedicated support teams

Provider costs typically range from $30 to $80 for basic packages and $150 to $300 for comprehensive screening bundles. While these fees are higher than accessing records yourself, they often prove more cost-effective when considering the amount of time saved and the reduced compliance risks.

How Much Does a Federal Background Check Cost?

Federal background checks provide a distinct layer of screening by searching US district court records. These searches reveal federal crimes that state or county checks might miss, such as mail fraud, tax evasion, interstate drug trafficking, and identity theft. While standard criminal checks search local jurisdictions, federal background checks specifically examine cases prosecuted through the federal court system.

When requesting federal background checks directly from government agencies, the FBI offers screening through its Identity History Summary Check, priced at $18 per person. Processing times and costs vary based on the submission method:

• Online requests are typically completed within 48 hours through the FBI’s website.
• Mail requests take up to 30 days to process.
• FBI-approved channeler services deliver results in 24 to 72 hours with additional fees.

For employers seeking direct federal court records, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system provides another avenue. After free registration, the PACER system charges $0.10 per page view, with a $3 cap per document. While this might seem economical, searching multiple jurisdictions and downloading numerous documents can quickly increase costs.

Furthermore, the geographic scope of the search significantly impacts costs. Searching a single federal district might cost between $10 and $20 while covering all districts within one state typically ranges from $25 to $45. Nationwide federal searches, which provide the most thorough coverage, can reach $50 to $100. Civil litigation searches follow a similar pattern but generally command higher fees due to the complexity of civil court records.

Federal employment verification represents another important component, particularly for government positions or contractors. Basic verification starts at around $20 to $40, while detailed background investigations for security clearance verification can range from $75 to $150.

Although comprehensive federal screening requires a larger upfront investment, it can provide insights for roles involving financial responsibility, government contracts, or positions requiring security clearances.

Using a Background Check Company for Federal Checks

Most organizations opt to work with background check providers such as Checkr for federal background checks rather than managing multiple government portal searches. These providers typically structure their federal screening services into tiers:

• A basic federal criminal search costs $15 to $25 and covers primary jurisdictions connected to the candidate’s residence history.
• More comprehensive screenings, ranging from $40 to $75, expand the search across multiple federal districts and may include both criminal and civil records.
• For positions requiring the deepest level of scrutiny, such as executive roles or jobs with security clearance requirements, advanced federal screening packages can run from $75 to $150.

Background Check Costs by State

Each state maintains unique systems for storing and accessing public records, which creates significant cost variations. Add county-level fees and local regulations, and prices can vary widely based on location.

How Much Does a Background Check Cost in California?

When requesting records directly from California agencies and courts, base costs run higher than national averages:

• MVR search: $2 to $20
• Live Scan fingerprinting: $32 to $49
• County criminal search: $15 to $25 per county

Recent California Court of Appeals decisions requiring manual verification of dates of birth at courthouses have increased costs and processing times. Professional background check providers typically charge additional fees of $10 to $25 to cover these extra verification steps.

A critical factor in California’s higher pricing stems from its strict privacy laws and complex regulatory environment. Employers must navigate both state-specific requirements and local ordinances, which often necessitate more thorough screening processes.

The state’s size and population mobility also means background checks frequently need to cover multiple counties, each with its own fee structure and access rules.

How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Texas?

When working directly with Texas agencies, pricing is lower than in California:

• Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) criminal history search: $3
• MVR records: $4.50 to $22
• County criminal search: $10 to $20 per county

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains a centralized database, making basic searches more affordable. However, comprehensive checks often require individual county searches across Texas’s 254 counties.

Texas’s background check market benefits from the state’s investment in digital infrastructure and streamlined recordkeeping systems. However, the sheer number of counties can create challenges for thorough screening.

Many employers opt for comprehensive packages from background check providers that combine state database searches with county-level verification, particularly for positions in major metropolitan areas where candidates might have lived in multiple jurisdictions.

How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Florida?

For direct access through Florida agencies, the state provides several screening options:

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) criminal history search: $24
• County court search: $10 to $30 per county
• Level 2 (fingerprint-based) check: $40 to $100

Florida’s tiered system offers different screening levels based on job requirements. Level 2 checks cost more but provide deeper insight into roles working with vulnerable populations.

The state’s background check system reflects its diverse workforce needs, from tourism and hospitality to healthcare and education. Florida’s structured approach to screening helps employers match check intensity to position requirements while maintaining compliance with state regulations.

How Much Does a Background Check Cost in New York?

When accessing records through state agencies and courts, New York’s complex court system affects pricing:

• New York State Office of Court Administration criminal search: $95
• County criminal search: $5 to $65 per county

New York City’s five boroughs each require separate searches. State regulations also mandate specific procedures that increase costs.

New York’s higher costs reflect its intricate legal system and stringent employment laws. The state’s emphasis on worker protection and privacy rights creates additional verification requirements that extend processing times and increase expenses.

Many employers find value in comprehensive borough packages provided by background check services despite their higher costs. These packages offer a more complete picture of a candidate’s history within the greater metropolitan area, where residents often move between boroughs.

How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Illinois?

When working directly with the Illinois State Police, costs vary based on submission method and scope:

• Name-based criminal history inquiry: $10 to $16
• Fingerprint-based criminal history check (state-only): $15 to $20
• Fingerprint-based criminal history check (state and FBI): $28.25 to $33.25

The Illinois State Police offers both electronic and paper-based submissions, with electronic processing providing cost savings.

Illinois’s structured fee schedule balances accessibility with thoroughness. The state’s focus on rehabilitation and fair chance hiring practices influences its background check system, with recent legislation affecting how and when employers can consider criminal history.

This regulatory environment has pushed many background screening providers to develop specialized packages that meet both state requirements and employer needs while maintaining reasonable costs.

How Much Does a Background Check Cost in Ohio?

When working directly with Ohio agencies, costs include:

• Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) criminal check: $30
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal check: $28
• Combined BCI/FBI check: $58

Ohio’s centralized system, administered by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), helps control costs while providing reliable results. The efficient background check system benefits from ongoing modernization efforts and strong coordination between state and federal agencies. Its approach emphasizes accessibility for employers while maintaining high accuracy standards.

Are Background Checks Worth It?

When considering the investment in background screening, the math speaks volumes. A bad hire can drain up to 30% of an employee’s first-year earnings. Compare this substantial financial risk to background check costs ranging from $50 to $200 per candidate, and the value proposition becomes pretty clear.

The risks of skipping background checks can be severe. Research reveals that 78% of false statements on resumes slip through without proper verification procedures. These undetected fabrications can lead to serious problems down the line, from performance issues to potential legal complications. Small businesses feel this impact acutely—a single bad hire costs them an average of $17,000.

This financial risk takes on new weight when considering that one in three Americans has a criminal record. While a criminal record shouldn’t automatically disqualify candidates, employers need this information to make informed decisions about role fit and potential workplace safety concerns.

Benefits Beyond Cost Saving

Background checks deliver value beyond pure cost savings. Organizations that implement thorough screening programs typically see improvements in employee retention, reduced training expenses, and stronger legal compliance. These checks also build customer confidence and create a more secure workplace environment.

Smart background check strategies focus screening intensity on specific role requirements. For instance, positions involving financial oversight, sensitive data access, customer interaction, or safety-critical functions warrant more comprehensive verification. Leadership roles, too, often justify deeper background investigations given their organizational impact.

The key is to create consistent standards across similar positions while adapting the depth of screening to match each role’s specific risks and responsibilities.

Conclusion

While basic screenings start at around $20, most employers benefit from professional screening packages ($50 to $150) that provide thorough verification without requiring coordination with multiple government offices.

Smart background check spending starts with matching verification depth to position requirements—entry-level roles might need only basic criminal searches, while executive positions warrant comprehensive screening.

Consider exploring our related guides on what causes a red flag on a background check and the best background check providers we’ve reviewed. This way, you’ll find the background screening service perfect for your needs.

FAQs How much does a background check cost in the US?

Basic criminal searches cost $20 to $40, while comprehensive employment screening packages range from $50 to $200. Costs vary based on search depth, location, and turnaround time requirements.

How do you check if a person has a criminal record?

You can search county, state, or federal court records through government databases or background check providers. Many states offer online portals for basic searches, though fees and access rules vary by location.

How long does a background check take?

Standard background checks take two to five business days. Basic database searches might return instant results, while international verification or manual court searches can take one to two weeks.

References

1. Rap Sheets – Identity History Summary Checks (FBI)
2. 1 in 3 Americans have lied in the hiring process (ResumeBuilder.com)
3. Do you know the cost of making a bad hire? (CareerBuilder)
4. The Cost of a Bad Hire & How To Handle Poor Employees (Business.com)
5. How to stop candidates from lying on their resumes (TestGorilla)
6. Americans with Criminal Records (The Sentencing Project)

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