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 2

Marcus Walker

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$86,149

Base pay: $80,930
Overtime: $535
Other pay: $4,684
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,149
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,634
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612024
Salary Total: $7,481
Total Pay: $86,149

Marcus Walker works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Marcus earned $86,149 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Heather Asendorf

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$85,939

Base pay: $84,495
Overtime: $1,444
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,939
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,270
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612021
Salary Total: $7,125
Total Pay: $85,939

Heather Asendorf works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Heather earned $85,939 in 2025. They are represented by R07.

Rene Mancinas Jr

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2023 total comp

$85,875

Base pay: $82,442
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,433
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,875
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Monterey

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,375
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612050
Salary Total: $7,375
Total Pay: $85,875

Rene Mancinas Jr holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $85,875. They are represented by R07.

Justin Brown

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$85,766

Base pay: $84,156
Overtime: $1,110
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,766
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,270
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612007
Salary Total: $7,125
Total Pay: $85,766

Justin Brown is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $85,766. They are represented by R07.

Lindsay Kearns

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$84,258

Base pay: $84,156
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $102
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,258
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Monterey
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,270
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612004
Salary Total: $7,125
Total Pay: $84,258

Lindsay Kearns holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $84,258. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Cory Pisciuneri

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$83,500

Base pay: $82,122
Overtime: $878
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,500
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,270
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612044
Salary Total: $7,125
Total Pay: $83,500

Cory Pisciuneri holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $83,500. They are represented by R07.

Samantha Lehnhoff

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$78,697

Base pay: $72,320
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,376
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,697
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,625
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612010
Salary Total: $6,493
Total Pay: $78,697

At Department of Cannabis Control, Samantha Lehnhoff serves as a Special Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $78,697. They are represented by R07.

Branden Howton

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$75,614

Base pay: $75,150
Overtime: $464
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,614
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,626
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612052
Salary Total: $6,493
Total Pay: $75,614

Branden Howton works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Branden earned $75,614 in 2025. Union affiliation: R07.

Bryan Hayashida

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$75,460

Base pay: $75,460
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,460
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,626
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612033
Salary Total: $6,493
Total Pay: $75,460

Bryan Hayashida is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $75,460. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Emily Walker

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$73,812

Base pay: $62,024
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $11,788
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,812
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,015
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612037
Salary Total: $7,855
Total Pay: $73,812

Emily Walker works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Emily earned $73,812 in 2025. They are represented by R07.

Jacqueline Diaz

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2023 total comp

$73,025

Base pay: $53,805
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $19,221
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,025
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sonoma
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,337
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612008
Salary Total: $7,337
Total Pay: $73,025

Jacqueline Diaz holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $73,025. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Michael Allee

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2023 total comp

$66,179

Base pay: $52,123
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $14,056
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,179
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,686
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612002
Salary Total: $6,686
Total Pay: $66,179

Michael Allee holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $66,179. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Dean Yingst

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$66,111

Base pay: $60,869
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $5,242
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,111
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Shasta
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,796
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612042
Salary Total: $6,660
Total Pay: $66,111

Dean Yingst works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Dean earned $66,111 in 2025. They are represented by R07.

Julian Contreras

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2024 total comp

$49,765

Base pay: $49,515
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $49,765
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,533
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612045
Salary Total: $8,533
Total Pay: $49,765

Julian Contreras holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $49,765. They are represented by R07.

Dustin Martinez

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$47,477

Base pay: $47,477
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $47,477
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,528
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612002
Salary Total: $5,417
Total Pay: $47,477

At Department of Cannabis Control, Dustin Martinez serves as a Special Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $47,477. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Timothy Parsons

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2024 total comp

$28,011

Base pay: $26,220
Overtime: $403
Other pay: $1,388
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $28,011
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,788
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612002
Salary Total: $6,788
Total Pay: $28,011

Timothy Parsons is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $28,011. They are represented by R07.

Jeff Ramos

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2023 total comp

$19,462

Base pay: $19,462
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $19,462
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,272
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5924208612907
Salary Total: $48
Total Pay: $19,462

Jeff Ramos is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work intermittent. 2023 total compensation came to $19,462. They are represented by R07.

Michael Kania

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$16,244

Base pay: $16,244
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $16,244
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,606
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5924208612907
Salary Total: $50
Total Pay: $16,244

Michael Kania is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to $16,244. Union affiliation: R07.

Karyn Dunn

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$8,936

Base pay: $8,936
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,936
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,606
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5924208612907
Salary Total: $50
Total Pay: $8,936

Karyn Dunn is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to $8,936. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Pedro Leon

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$4,617

Base pay: $4,617
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $4,617
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: H

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,606
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5924208612907
Salary Total: $50
Total Pay: $4,617

At Department of Cannabis Control, Pedro Leon serves as a Special Investigator. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $4,617. Union affiliation: R07.

Shannon Townsend

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2023 total comp

$2,713

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,713
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $2,713
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,481
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612034
Salary Total: $7,481

Shannon Townsend works as a Special Investigator for Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is full-time. Shannon earned $2,713 in 2023. Union affiliation: R07.

Cindy Croyts-Schooley

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2024 total comp

$2,176

Base pay: $2,169
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $8
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $2,176
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,686
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5923308612007
Salary Total: $8,686
Total Pay: $2,176

At Department of Cannabis Control, Cindy Croyts-Schooley serves as a Special Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $2,176. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Lee Cotter

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$389

Base pay: $389
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $389
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,437
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5924208612907
Salary Total: $49
Total Pay: $389

Lee Cotter holds the role of Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. Their status is intermittent. In 2025, their total compensation was $389. They are represented by R07.

Craig Potter

Special Investigator/Department of Cannabis Control

2025 total comp

$78

Base pay: $78
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,788
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5924208612907
Salary Total: $39
Total Pay: $78

Craig Potter is a Special Investigator at Department of Cannabis Control. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to $78. They are represented by R07.