Chief Engineer I

Design, analyze, and oversee technical systems or infrastructure, ensuring they meet specifications and codes.

2 employees hold this title in Developmental Services. Median total compensation for the role is $113,433, above the department median of $77,233.

Employees: 2
Total payroll: $226.9K
Role median: $113,433
Agency median: $77,233
Comparison: Above

Compare departments

This role across California

Chief Engineer I is held in 11 California departments. In Developmental Services, the median of $113,433 ranks #2 of 11.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Motor Vehicles

$117,071 · 1

Veterans Affairs

$112,767 · 7

California State Lottery Community

$108,152 · 2

Transportation

$106,278 · 2

Department of State Hospitals

$101,080 · 14

General Services

$96,984 · 31

Military Department

$91,941 · 2

State Comp Insurance Fund

$89,487 · 2

Education

$64,120 · 2

Department of Public Health

$5,755 · 1

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

Compare jurisdictions

Chief Engineer beyond California

This role is reported in 3 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $104,757 ranks #3 of 3. See Chief Engineer across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

New York Public Authorities

$201,176 · 19

U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

$186,282 · 25

Median total compensation for comparable Chief Engineer roles 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

David Brownson

Chief Engineer I/Developmental Services

2025 total comp

$117,909

Sub-department: Developmental Services/Admin
Base pay: $117,909
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,909
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R13
Work county: Tulare
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,500
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4722666698002
Salary Total: $9,110
Total Pay: $117,909

At Developmental Services, David Brownson serves as a Chief Engineer I within Developmental Services/Admin. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $117,909. Their bargaining unit is R13.

Dave Brownson

Chief Engineer I/Developmental Services

2024 total comp

$108,958

Sub-department: Developmental Services/Admin
Base pay: $104,914
Overtime: $741
Other pay: $3,304
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $108,958
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R13
Work county: Tulare
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,252
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4722666698002
Salary Total: $9,095
Total Pay: $108,958

Dave Brownson is a Chief Engineer I at Developmental Services within Developmental Services/Admin. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $108,958. Union affiliation: R13.