The average salary for a private detective in Montana is around $47,430 per year.
Avg Salary
Private detectives earn an average yearly salary of $47,430.
Wages typically start from $39,900 and go up to $73,190.
21% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$35.19 per hour
$73,190 per year
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$26.46 per hour
$55,040 per year
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.80 per hour
$47,430 per year
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.50 per hour
$42,640 per year
Starting level private detective earnings begin at:
$19.18 per hour
$39,900 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Private detective salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $76,480 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| Nevada | $69,300 |
| Vermont | $67,910 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 |
| Washington | $64,080 |
| California | $61,250 |
| Arizona | $61,030 |
| Illinois | $60,210 |
| New York | $59,140 |
| Utah | $57,910 |
| Minnesota | $57,880 |
| Maryland | $56,580 |
| Virginia | $56,160 |
| Delaware | $55,710 |
| New Jersey | $54,710 |
| Rhode Island | $54,620 |
| Wyoming | $54,310 |
| Alaska | $53,440 |
| North Carolina | $52,890 |
| Texas | $51,810 |
| Nebraska | $51,750 |
| South Carolina | $51,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,200 |
| Florida | $50,640 |
| Massachusetts | $50,240 |
| Tennessee | $49,360 |
| Colorado | $48,730 |
| Michigan | $48,650 |
| Idaho | $47,910 |
| Arkansas | $47,750 |
| Kentucky | $47,650 |
| Montana | $47,430 |
| Ohio | $47,200 |
| Alabama | $46,810 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 |
| Hawaii | $45,750 |
| Kansas | $45,260 |
| Georgia | $45,060 |
| South Dakota | $44,840 |
| North Dakota | $44,310 |
| Maine | $43,830 |
| Louisiana | $41,950 |
| Wisconsin | $41,850 |
| Indiana | $41,830 |
| Missouri | $41,600 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 |
| Iowa | $41,110 |
| Oklahoma | $39,680 |
| Mississippi | $39,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,890 |
How do private detective salaries compare to similar careers?
Private detectives earn about the same as related careers in Montana. On average, they make less than hazardous materials removal workers but more than garbage collectors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $55K |
| Family social worker salary | $57K |
| Event planner salary | $49K |
| Wedding planner salary | $49K |
| Correctional officer salary | $49K |
| Private detective salary | $47K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $45K |
| Funeral director salary | $44K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $46K |
| Garbage collector salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)