Career comparison
Private Investigator vs. Security Supervisor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Security supervisors earn more at the median ($55,940 vs. $51,220), while private investigators usually get to work faster (1–3 years of experience of training). Private investigators find facts, people and evidence for clients, lawyers and businesses. Security supervisors lead security officers and keep sites, people and property protected.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Private Investigator | Security Supervisor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $51,220 ($24.62/hr) | $55,940 ($26.90/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,740 – $97,630 | $37,300 – $92,260 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.5% (faster than average) | +3.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,200 | 6,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–3 years of experience | 1–3 years of security experience |
| Key credential | State private investigator license | State security guard license |
| Work setting | PIs work in offices, cars and the field, sometimes for long hours waiting and watching. | Supervisors work at client sites, patrol buildings and grounds and spend time in security offices monitoring cameras.. |
What each job does
Private Investigator
- Conduct surveillance
- Research public records and databases
- Run background checks
- Locate people and assets
- Interview witnesses and subjects
Security Supervisor
- Schedule and supervise security officers
- Train officers on post orders and procedures
- Inspect posts and patrols
- Respond to and manage incidents
- Review and approve incident reports
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors. Both are part of the public safety & security field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose private investigator if…
- I’m patient and observant
- I like finding information
- I can work alone
Choose security supervisor if…
- I like leading teams
- I stay calm in incidents
- I communicate clearly
Still torn? Take the Private Investigator fit quiz and the Security Supervisor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, private investigator or security supervisor?
Security Supervisors earn more at the median: $55,940 versus $51,220 for private investigators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Private Investigators typically train faster (1–3 years of experience) than security supervisors (1–3 years of security experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects private investigators to grow +5.5% from 2025–35, compared with +3.7% for security supervisors.