Detectives and Criminal Investigators Salary
The median pay for a detectives and criminal investigators in Montana is $92,410/year ($44.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $95,268 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $92K get you in Montana?
About detectives and criminal investigators
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What this looks like in Montana
Detectives and criminal investigators pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $92K locally vs. $94K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 19.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level detectives and criminal investigators (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $136K | +47% | 40 |
| Missoula | $100K | +8% | 40 |
| Helena | $74K | -20% | 70 |
| Billings | $73K | -21% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track detectives and criminal investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a detectives and criminal investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 19.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for detectives and criminal investigators in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new detectives and criminal investigators typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,520/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is detectives and criminal investigator a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $92K locally vs. $94K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for detectives and criminal investigators?
Montana pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make in Montana?
The median is $92,410 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,670, and experienced detectives and criminal investigators can clear $144,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,754/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 19.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a detectives and criminal investigators salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median detectives and criminal investigators salary is worth about $95,268 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do detectives and criminal investigators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.