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

Eric Prado

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$123,895

Base pay: $123,538
Overtime: $168
Other pay: $190
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,895
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,369
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253068610003
Salary Total: $10,680
Total Pay: $123,895

Eric Prado is a Investigator at Motor Vehicles. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $123,895. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Joseph Jo

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$123,060

Base pay: $123,060
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,060
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,923
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253338610010
Salary Total: $10,421
Total Pay: $123,060

Joseph Jo holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $123,060. Union affiliation: R07.

Chelsea Desouza

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2024 total comp

$122,868

Base pay: $121,811
Overtime: $967
Other pay: $90
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $122,868
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,881
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253658610014
Salary Total: $10,375
Total Pay: $122,868

At Motor Vehicles, Chelsea Desouza serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $122,868. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Rogelio Gutierrez

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2023 total comp

$121,699

Base pay: $120,281
Overtime: $1,418
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,699
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,197
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253698610905
Salary Total: $10,472
Total Pay: $121,699

Rogelio Gutierrez is a Investigator at Motor Vehicles. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $121,699. They are represented by R07.

Sean Rice

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2023 total comp

$121,219

Base pay: $120,881
Overtime: $281
Other pay: $57
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,219
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,197
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253068610001
Salary Total: $10,522
Total Pay: $121,219

At Motor Vehicles, Sean Rice serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $121,219. Union affiliation: R07.

Christopher Todd

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$120,934

Base pay: $115,791
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $5,143
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,934
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,609
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253318610021
Salary Total: $11,127
Total Pay: $120,934

Christopher Todd holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $120,934. They are represented by R07.

Garrett White

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$117,935

Base pay: $117,179
Overtime: $507
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,935
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,834
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253568610022
Salary Total: $9,883
Total Pay: $117,935

At Motor Vehicles, Garrett White serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $117,935. Union affiliation: R07.

Gerardo Jimenez Jr

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$117,829

Base pay: $110,290
Overtime: $7,290
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,829
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,434
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253568610031
Salary Total: $9,445
Total Pay: $117,829

Gerardo Jimenez Jr holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $117,829. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Mariana Sanchez

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$116,895

Base pay: $100,163
Overtime: $15,398
Other pay: $1,335
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $116,895
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,055
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253068610001
Salary Total: $8,881
Total Pay: $116,895

Mariana Sanchez holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $116,895. Union affiliation: R07.