EMT / Paramedic vs Private Investigator

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Private Investigator

Easier to Obtain

Tie

Lower Fee

EMT / Paramedic

Detailed Comparison

Metric	EMT / Paramedic	Private Investigator
Category	Public Safety	Public Safety
Median Salary	$42,470	$59,380
Avg Initial Fee	$100	$253
Difficulty	Medium	Medium
Education	EMT: 120-150 hours / Paramedic: 1200 hours	Varies (often experience-based)
Exam	NREMT Exam	State PI Exam (where required)
Time to License	3-18 months	1-3 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	12 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	33 of 53

Salary Comparison

EMT / Paramedic

Median Salary$42,470

Avg Salary$42,470

Avg License Fee$100

Private Investigator

Median Salary$59,380

Avg Salary$59,380

Avg License Fee$253

Private Investigator earns $16,910 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $169,100 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

EMT / ParamedicView all 53 state requirements Private InvestigatorView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: EMT / Paramedic or Private Investigator?

Private Investigator has a higher median salary at $59,380 per year, compared to $42,470 for EMT / Paramedic — a difference of $16,910 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a EMT / Paramedic or a Private Investigator?

EMT / Paramedic licensing is rated Medium difficulty, while Private Investigator is rated Medium. EMT / Paramedic requires EMT: 120-150 hours / Paramedic: 1200 hours and typically takes 3-18 months, compared to Varies (often experience-based) and 1-3 years for Private Investigator.

Which license costs more: EMT / Paramedic or Private Investigator?

Private Investigator has a higher average initial fee of $253, while EMT / Paramedic averages $100 — a difference of $153.

Do all states require a license for EMT / Paramedic and Private Investigator?

EMT / Paramedic requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Private Investigator requires it in 33 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: EMT / Paramedic or Private Investigator?

EMT / Paramedic typically takes 3-18 months from start to licensure, while Private Investigator takes 1-3 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	EMT / Paramedic	Private Investigator
Category	Public Safety	Public Safety
Median Salary	$42,470	$59,380
Avg Initial Fee	$100	$253
Difficulty	Medium	Medium
Education	EMT: 120-150 hours / Paramedic: 1200 hours	Varies (often experience-based)
Exam	NREMT Exam	State PI Exam (where required)
Time to License	3-18 months	1-3 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	12 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	33 of 53