California / Justice / Special Investigator

Job-title file

Special Investigator

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

28 employees hold this title in Justice. Median total compensation for the role is $82,200, below the department median of $92,942.

Employees: 28
Total payroll: $1.9M
Role median: $82,200
Agency median: $92,942
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$9,027$110,038+

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

How total compensation varies among the 28 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 Justice, the median of $82,200 ranks #21 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

Catherine Diaz

Special Investigator/Justice

2025 total comp

$110,117

Base pay: $109,517
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,117
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4204578612001
Salary Total: $9,127
Total Pay: $110,117

Catherine Diaz is a Special Investigator at Justice. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $110,117. Union affiliation: R07.

Jean Sarino

Special Investigator/Justice

2025 total comp

$109,971

Base pay: $109,671
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $109,971
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Orange
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4236648612002
Salary Total: $9,418
Total Pay: $109,971

Jean Sarino holds the role of Special Investigator at Justice. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $109,971. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Shannon Ireland

Special Investigator/Justice

2025 total comp

$107,947

Base pay: $106,990
Overtime: $606
Other pay: $351
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,947
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4236528612007
Salary Total: $9,127
Total Pay: $107,947

Shannon Ireland is a Special Investigator at Justice. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $107,947. Union affiliation: R07.

Sandra Altamirano

Special Investigator/Justice

2025 total comp

$107,471

Base pay: $107,171
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,471
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4236548612002
Salary Total: $9,418
Total Pay: $107,471

Sandra Altamirano holds the role of Special Investigator at Justice. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $107,471. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Mark Buenaluz

Special Investigator/Justice

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: Los Angeles
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4202558612901
Salary Total: $8,856
Total Pay: $106,901

Mark Buenaluz holds the role of Special Investigator at Justice. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $106,901. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Elena Woo-Melendez

Special Investigator/Justice

2025 total comp

$105,937

Base pay: $105,637
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $105,937
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4236678612006
Salary Total: $9,418
Total Pay: $105,937

Elena Woo-Melendez is a Special Investigator at Justice. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $105,937. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Maria Abundes

Special Investigator/Justice

2025 total comp

$105,912

Base pay: $105,637
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $275
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $105,912
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4236678612007
Salary Total: $9,418
Total Pay: $105,912

Maria Abundes holds the role of Special Investigator at Justice. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $105,912. They are represented by R07.