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

Esther Witmer Sims

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2024 total comp

$29,982

Base pay: $15,169
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $14,813
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $29,982
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,526
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253258610001
Salary Total: $6,852
Total Pay: $29,982

Esther Witmer Sims works as a Investigator for Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. Esther earned $29,982 in 2024. They are represented by R07.

Cruz Diaz

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$28,355

Base pay: $28,355
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $28,355
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,306
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253568610034
Salary Total: $8,256
Total Pay: $28,355

At Motor Vehicles, Cruz Diaz serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $28,355. They are represented by R07.

Justin Cabuloy

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2024 total comp

$27,478

Base pay: $23,054
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,424
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,478
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,197
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253258610007
Salary Total: $10,707
Total Pay: $27,478

Justin Cabuloy holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $27,478. They are represented by R07.

Richard Neves

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$24,769

Base pay: $24,769
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,769
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Solano
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,306
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253228610017
Salary Total: $8,256
Total Pay: $24,769

At Motor Vehicles, Richard Neves serves as a Investigator. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $24,769. They are represented by R07.