Private Investigator vs Professional Engineer (PE)

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Professional Engineer (PE)

Easier to Obtain

Private Investigator

Lower Fee

Private Investigator

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Private Investigator	Professional Engineer (PE)
Category	Public Safety	Engineering
Median Salary	$59,380	$100,640
Avg Initial Fee	$253	$340
Difficulty	Medium	Very High
Education	Varies (often experience-based)	BS Engineering + 4 years experience
Exam	State PI Exam (where required)	FE + PE Exam
Time to License	1-3 years	8 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	12 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	33 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Private Investigator

Median Salary$59,380

Avg Salary$59,380

Avg License Fee$253

Professional Engineer (PE)

Median Salary$100,640

Avg Salary$100,640

Avg License Fee$340

Professional Engineer (PE) earns $41,260 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $412,600 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Private InvestigatorView all 53 state requirements Professional Engineer (PE)View 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: Private Investigator or Professional Engineer (PE)?

Professional Engineer (PE) has a higher median salary at $100,640 per year, compared to $59,380 for Private Investigator — a difference of $41,260 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Private Investigator or a Professional Engineer (PE)?

Private Investigator licensing is rated Medium difficulty, while Professional Engineer (PE) is rated Very High. Private Investigator requires Varies (often experience-based) and typically takes 1-3 years, compared to BS Engineering + 4 years experience and 8 years for Professional Engineer (PE).

Which license costs more: Private Investigator or Professional Engineer (PE)?

Professional Engineer (PE) has a higher average initial fee of $340, while Private Investigator averages $253 — a difference of $87.

Do all states require a license for Private Investigator and Professional Engineer (PE)?

Private Investigator requires licensing in 33 of 53 jurisdictions, while Professional Engineer (PE) requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Private Investigator or Professional Engineer (PE)?

Private Investigator typically takes 1-3 years from start to licensure, while Professional Engineer (PE) takes 8 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Private Investigator	Professional Engineer (PE)
Category	Public Safety	Engineering
Median Salary	$59,380	$100,640
Avg Initial Fee	$253	$340
Difficulty	Medium	Very High
Education	Varies (often experience-based)	BS Engineering + 4 years experience
Exam	State PI Exam (where required)	FE + PE Exam
Time to License	1-3 years	8 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	12 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	33 of 53	53 of 53