California / Department of Cannabis Control / Special Investigator

Job-title file

Special Investigator

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

64 employees hold this title in Department of Cannabis Control. Median total compensation for the role is $90,956, above the department median of $89,477.

Employees: 64
Total payroll: $5.1M
Role median: $90,956
Agency median: $89,477
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$78$111,071+

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

How total compensation varies among the 64 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 Cannabis Control, the median of $90,956 ranks #18 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 Public Health

$101,125 · 29

Department of Managed Care

$100,883 · 8

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

Karina Duenas

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$98,857

Base pay: $96,244
Overtime: $1,796
Other pay: $817
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,857
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612030
Salary Total: $8,248
Total Pay: $98,857

Karina Duenas holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $98,857. Union affiliation: R07.

Alaina Wilburn

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$98,342

Base pay: $97,842
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,342
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,217
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612028
Salary Total: $8,381
Total Pay: $98,342

At Department of Cannabis Control, Alaina Wilburn serves as a Special Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $98,342. They are represented by R07.

Todd Cogle

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$97,423

Base pay: $97,423
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,423
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Shasta
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612006
Salary Total: $8,248
Total Pay: $97,423

At Department of Cannabis Control, Todd Cogle serves as a Special Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $97,423. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Jennifer Ostrowski

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$97,423

Base pay: $97,423
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,423
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Trinity
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612039
Salary Total: $8,248
Total Pay: $97,423

Jennifer Ostrowski works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Jennifer earned $97,423 in 2025. Union affiliation: R07.

Wendell Smith

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$97,046

Base pay: $96,905
Overtime: $140
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,046
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Ventura
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,217
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612029
Salary Total: $8,217
Total Pay: $97,046

Wendell Smith holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $97,046. They are represented by R07.

Traci Ploharz-Lucchesi

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$97,030

Base pay: $97,030
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,030
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612017
Salary Total: $8,248
Total Pay: $97,030

Traci Ploharz-Lucchesi works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Traci earned $97,030 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Jorge Avila

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$96,674

Base pay: $96,674
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,674
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,628
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612049
Salary Total: $8,455
Total Pay: $96,674

At Department of Cannabis Control, Jorge Avila serves as a Special Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $96,674. Union affiliation: R07.

Patrick Shanahan

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$96,313

Base pay: $96,313
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,313
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,628
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612022
Salary Total: $8,455
Total Pay: $96,313

Patrick Shanahan holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $96,313. They are represented by R07.

Zachary Scully

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$95,498

Base pay: $94,460
Overtime: $1,038
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,498
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,160
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612008
Salary Total: $7,997
Total Pay: $95,498

Zachary Scully is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $95,498. Union affiliation: R07.