Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,280 or more. The middle half of detectives and criminal investigators in Helena earn between $58,670 and $109,300.
- $59K10th
- $59K25th
- $74KMedian
- $109K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,380 | $7,282 | $42.01 |
| Median | $73,950 | $6,162 | $35.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,670 | $4,889 | $28.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $109,300 | $9,108 | $52.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Detectives and criminal investigators in Helena earn 7% less than the Montana average ($93,800) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($99,430). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $93,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $87,380 | $73,950 | $58,670 | $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 Helena
On the average salary of $87,380, a single filer in Helena takes home about $66,726 a year, or $5,560 a month and $2,566 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 Helena a good place for detectives and criminal investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $87,380 buys what about $91,330 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 4th 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
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Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary in Helena: questions
How much do detectives and criminal investigators make an hour in Helena?
$42.01 an hour on average, and $35.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level detectives and criminal investigators salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the detectives and criminal investigators take-home pay in Helena?
About $66,726 a year ($5,560 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,380.
Do detectives and criminal investigators earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 2.02, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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