Private Detectives and Investigators Salary
The median pay for a private detectives and investigators in Montana is $47,430/year ($22.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $48,897 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $47K get you in Montana?
About private detectives and investigators
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What this looks like in Montana
Private detectives and investigators pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 35.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 private detectives and investigators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track private detectives and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a private detectives and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 35.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for private detectives and investigators in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new private detectives and investigators typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,394/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is private detectives and investigator a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for private detectives and investigators?
Montana pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do private detectives and investigators make in Montana?
The median is $47,430 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,900, and experienced private detectives and investigators can clear $73,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,205/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 35.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a private detectives and 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 private detectives and investigators salary is worth about $48,897 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do private detectives and 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.