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.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Private detective earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level private detective earnings begin at:
$35.19 per hour
$73,190 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$26.46 per hour
$55,040 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level private detective earnings begin at:
$22.80 per hour
$47,430 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level private detective earnings begin at:
$20.50 per hour
$42,640 per year
10th percentile
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 |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| Oregon | $76,480 |
| Connecticut | $75,010 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Maryland | $51,060 |
| 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 | $33,090 |
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 social workers but more than american sign language interpreters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Social worker salary | $52K |
| Postal service clerk salary | $58K |
| Postal service worker salary | $58K |
| Family social worker salary | $57K |
| Correctional officer salary | $49K |
| Private detective salary | $47K |
| Judicial law clerk salary | $47K |
| Funeral director salary | $44K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $48K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)