California / Department of Public Health / Special Investigator

Job-title file

Special Investigator

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

29 employees hold this title in Department of Public Health. Median total compensation for the role is $101,125, above the department median of $92,430.

Employees: 29
Total payroll: $2.4M
Role median: $101,125
Agency median: $92,430
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$25,573$123,039+

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

How total compensation varies among the 29 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 California

Special Investigator is held in 25 California departments. In Department of Public Health, the median of $101,125 ranks #11 of 25.

Highest-paying departments for this role

State Comp Insurance Fund

$115,402 · 32

Pesticide Regulation

$111,800 · 1

Real Estate

$106,901 · 69

Board of Osteopathic Examiner

$106,751 · 1

Housing and Community Develop

$106,049 · 5

Fair Political Practices Community

$105,965 · 11

CA State Auditor's Office

$105,479 · 2

Community on Teacher Credentialing

$105,348 · 9

CA. State Auditor's Office

$104,949 · 4

Food and Agriculture

$101,384 · 57

Department of Managed Care

$100,883 · 8

Transportation

$100,184 · 26

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

Compare jurisdictions

Special Investigator beyond California

This role is reported in 3 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $94,526 ranks #2 of 3. See Special Investigator across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City of Los Angeles

$131,017 · 28

New York City

$86,961 · 68

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

Paul Pugh

Special Investigator/Department of Public Health

2025 total comp

$106,901

Base pay: $106,301
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,901
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5808818612001
Salary Total: $8,856
Total Pay: $106,901

Paul Pugh holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Public Health. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $106,901. Union affiliation: R07.

Michelle Escandon

Special Investigator/Department of Public Health

2025 total comp

$106,389

Base pay: $105,789
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,389
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Orange
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5808418612003
Salary Total: $8,856
Total Pay: $106,389

Michelle Escandon works as a Special Investigator for Department of Public Health. Their status is full-time. Michelle earned $106,389 in 2025. Union affiliation: R07.

Wendell Turner

Special Investigator/Department of Public Health

2025 total comp

$106,075

Base pay: $105,525
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $550
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,075
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5808428612002
Salary Total: $8,856
Total Pay: $106,075

Wendell Turner holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Public Health. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $106,075. Union affiliation: R07.

Susan Sadler

Special Investigator/Department of Public Health

2025 total comp

$105,784

Base pay: $102,907
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,877
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $105,784
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5808818612013
Salary Total: $9,127
Total Pay: $105,784

Susan Sadler is a Special Investigator at Department of Public Health. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $105,784. Their bargaining unit is R07.