New York City / Department of Investigation / Special Investigator

Job-title file

Special Investigator

Inspect and investigate for compliance with regulations, document findings, and recommend action.

67 employees hold this title in Department of Investigation. Median total compensation for the role is $88,810, above the department median of $80,282.

Employees: 67
Total payroll: $5.5M
Role median: $88,810
Agency median: $80,282
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$1,822$139,003+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 67 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compare departments

This role across New York City

Special Investigator is held in 2 New York City departments. In Department of Investigation, the median of $88,810 ranks #1 of 2.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Sanitation

$36,208 · 1

Median total compensation for the Special Investigator role in other New York Citydepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Special Investigator beyond New York City

This role is reported in 3 jurisdictions. In New York City, the median of $86,961 ranks #3 of 3. See Special Investigator across all of New York City →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City of Los Angeles

$131,017 · 28

California

$94,526 · 854

Median total compensation for comparable Special Investigatorroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Sasha Holguin

Special Investigator/Department of Investigation

2025 total comp

$83,510

Base pay: $82,337
Overtime: $1,053
Other pay: $120
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,510
Hire date: 2023-11-06
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $106,911
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 19.5
Payroll Number: 32
Regular Hours: 1,820

At Department of Investigation, Sasha Holguin serves as a Special Investigator based in Manhattan. They have served since 2023 (about 2 years). Their 2025 pay totaled $83,510.

Heather Smith

Special Investigator/Department of Investigation

2025 total comp

$82,101

Base pay: $79,898
Overtime: $2,087
Other pay: $116
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,101
Hire date: 2015-08-03
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $83,755
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 41
Payroll Number: 32
Regular Hours: 1,820

At Department of Investigation, Heather Smith serves as a Special Investigator based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2015, about 10 years. Their 2025 pay totaled $82,101.

Paola Contreras

Special Investigator/Department of Investigation

2025 total comp

$80,022

Base pay: $78,559
Overtime: $1,202
Other pay: $261
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,022
Hire date: 2022-01-17
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $81,344
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 25.25
Payroll Number: 32
Regular Hours: 1,820

Paola Contreras is a Special Investigator at Department of Investigation based in Manhattan. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service. 2025 total compensation came to $80,022.

Ian Spearman

Special Investigator/Department of Investigation

2025 total comp

$78,008

Base pay: $77,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $270
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,008
Hire date: 2019-03-04
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $80,495
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 32
Regular Hours: 1,820

Ian Spearman holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Investigation based in Manhattan. Hired in 2019, they have about 6 years of service. In 2025, their total compensation was $78,008.