Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: $94K vs $56K Median Pay

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: what changes?

Consider Detectives and Criminal Investigators if you want to conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Detectives and Criminal Investigators (less than 5 years) and First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Detectives and Criminal Investigators and First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

National median pay (2025): $93,790
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 7,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Detectives and Criminal Investigators brief

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

National median pay (2025): $55,940
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

Detectives and Criminal Investigators has the edge on median pay

Detectives and Criminal Investigators is at $93,790, compared with $55,940 for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers.

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is at 3.7% projected growth, compared with 0.2% projected growth for Detectives and Criminal Investigators.

Typical preparation differs.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators has the edge on annual openings

Detectives and Criminal Investigators is at 7,800 annual openings, compared with 6,800 annual openings for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers.

56.4/ 100

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

56.5/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Dimension	Detectives and Criminal Investigators	First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
Median pay (2025)	$93,790	$55,940
Pay percentile	78.6 percentile	40.9 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	0.2%	3.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	7,800	6,800
2025 employment	120,500	82,700
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Detectives and Criminal Investigators brief Read First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers brief

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

How the national numbers differ

Detectives and Criminal Investigators has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators has the edge on annual openings

Detectives and Criminal Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

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