California / Motor Vehicles / Investigator

Job-title file

Investigator

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

188 employees hold this title in Motor Vehicles. Median total compensation for the role is $124,758, above the department median of $65,028.

Employees: 188
Total payroll: $21.3M
Role median: $124,758
Agency median: $65,028
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$1,500$155,237+

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

How total compensation varies among the 188 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

Investigator is held in 18 California departments. In Motor Vehicles, the median of $124,758 ranks #7 of 18.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Industrial Relations

$149,812 · 2

Department of Public Health

$132,770 · 50

Employment Development Department

$131,534 · 30

Department of Cannabis Control

$131,334 · 67

Public Employee's Retirement Systems

$131,168 · 9

Department of State Hospitals

$128,938 · 62

Department of Fincl Protctn and Inn

$124,515 · 9

Developmental Services

$124,051 · 18

California State Lottery Community

$118,622 · 40

Toxic Substances Control

$118,490 · 16

Insurance

$117,694 · 165

Department of Health Care Services

$110,516 · 59

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

Compare jurisdictions

Investigator beyond California

This role is reported in 21 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $118,556 ranks #2 of 21. See Investigator across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

Los Angeles County

$179,956 · 18

District of Columbia

$106,809 · 328

Chicago Public Schools

$99,274 · 13

City of Chicago

$81,324 · 19

New York Public Authorities

$78,295 · 23

Florida

$71,480 · 350

New Jersey

$69,979 · 104

City of Buffalo

$67,397 · 5

Median total compensation for comparable 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

Michael Hagel

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$101,413

Base pay: $101,413
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,413
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,671
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253408610017
Salary Total: $8,869
Total Pay: $101,413

Michael Hagel holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $101,413. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Andrea Fields

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$100,511

Base pay: $99,778
Overtime: $733
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,511
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,055
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253338610015
Salary Total: $8,881
Total Pay: $100,511

Andrea Fields holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $100,511. They are represented by R07.

David Regynski

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$99,922

Base pay: $99,909
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $13
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,922
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Santa Clara
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,671
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253268610034
Salary Total: $8,669
Total Pay: $99,922

David Regynski is a Investigator at Motor Vehicles. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $99,922. Union affiliation: R07.

Mark Dundas

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$98,930

Base pay: $98,739
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $191
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,930
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Placer
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,609
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253188610021
Salary Total: $11,670
Total Pay: $98,930

At Motor Vehicles, Mark Dundas serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $98,930. Union affiliation: R07.

Vanessa Arellano

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$96,934

Base pay: $90,455
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,479
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,934
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: San Joaquin
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,492
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253468610016
Salary Total: $8,747
Total Pay: $96,934

Vanessa Arellano is a Investigator at Motor Vehicles. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $96,934. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Beatriz Gillespie

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2024 total comp

$96,582

Base pay: $96,555
Overtime: $14
Other pay: $13
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,582
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Santa Clara
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,931
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253268610001
Salary Total: $8,328
Total Pay: $96,582

Beatriz Gillespie works as a Investigator for Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. Beatriz earned $96,582 in 2024. Union affiliation: R07.

Matthew Vincent Juan

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$96,367

Base pay: $96,267
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $101
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,367
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Santa Clara

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,671
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253268610039
Salary Total: $8,669
Total Pay: $96,367

Matthew Vincent Juan holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $96,367. Union affiliation: R07.

Vianca Munoz

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$96,275

Base pay: $80,819
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $15,456
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,275
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,922
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253448610013
Salary Total: $9,568
Total Pay: $96,275

Vianca Munoz is a Investigator at Motor Vehicles. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $96,275. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Kenneth Holt

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2024 total comp

$96,264

Base pay: $13,091
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $83,174
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,264
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,197
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253338610010
Salary Total: $11,825
Total Pay: $96,264

At Motor Vehicles, Kenneth Holt serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $96,264. Union affiliation: R07.

Monica Ibarramurillo

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2024 total comp

$95,486

Base pay: $94,993
Overtime: $493
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,486
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,555
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253668610023
Salary Total: $8,133
Total Pay: $95,486

Monica Ibarramurillo holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $95,486. They are represented by R07.

Vicente Garcia

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2023 total comp

$95,400

Base pay: $64,059
Overtime: $849
Other pay: $30,492
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,400
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,428
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253408610016
Salary Total: $10,677
Total Pay: $95,400

Vicente Garcia works as a Investigator for Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. Vicente earned $95,400 in 2023. Union affiliation: R07.

Vianca Sanchez

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$95,146

Base pay: $95,146
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,146
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253318610007
Salary Total: $8,468
Total Pay: $95,146

Vianca Sanchez holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $95,146. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Michelle Medina

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$94,375

Base pay: $94,375
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,375
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Kern

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,458
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253458610009
Salary Total: $8,700
Total Pay: $94,375

Michelle Medina holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $94,375. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Cynthia Valdovinos

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$93,873

Base pay: $93,073
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $800
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,873
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,705
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253318610010
Salary Total: $8,468
Total Pay: $93,873

Cynthia Valdovinos holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $93,873. Union affiliation: R07.