State comparison · 2025
Detectives and Criminal Investigators salary: California vs Montana
Detectives and Criminal Investigators in California earn a median of $124,840. In Montana, $92,410. After cost-of-living, the gap is 15.4% — not 35.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+35.1%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+15.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $124,840
- p25
- $99,270
- p75
- $136,020
- p10
- $78,280
- p90
- $165,510
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
Montana
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median
- $92,410
- p25
- $71,160
- p75
- $109,300
- p10
- $58,670
- p90
- $144,000
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.