Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Billings
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,280 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Billings earn between $70,480 and $121,850.
- $58K10th
- $70K25th
- $73KMedian
- $122K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,800 | $7,817 | $45.10 |
| Median | $72,880 | $6,073 | $35.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $70,480 | $5,873 | $33.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,850 | $10,154 | $58.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Billings vs. Montana and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Billings earn about the same as the Montana average ($93,800) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $93,800 | $72,880 | $58,010 | $149,280 | 70 |
| Montana | $93,800 | $92,410 | $58,670 | $144,000 | 500 |
| United States | $99,430 | $93,790 | $55,390 | $160,540 | 114,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary after taxes in Billings
On the average salary of $93,800, a single filer in Billings takes home about $70,880 a year, or $5,907 a month and $2,726 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Billings a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Billings area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.5), so the average $93,800 buys what about $100,293 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Billings ($49,060). A typical home costs $410,666, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Montana cities
Billings ranks 3rd of 4 Montana metro areas for this job; Great Falls pays the most ($121,670).
- Great Falls$121,670
- Missoula$108,410
- Billings$93,800
- Helena$87,380
All Detectives and Criminal Investigators salaries in Montana
Highest-paying cities for detectives and criminal investigators
Brunswick, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,490).
- Brunswick, GA$148,490
- Washington, DC$146,910
- San Jose, CA$144,580
- Oxnard, CA$138,040
- San Francisco, CA$135,460
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Billings: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Billings?
$45.10 an hour on average, and $35.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Billings?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $70,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Billings?
About $70,880 a year ($5,907 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,800.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Billings than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($99,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3021; area Billings, MT (13740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.