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

Patrick Esteban

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2023 total comp

$37,023

Base pay: $36,848
Overtime: $159
Other pay: $16
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $37,023
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,916
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253258610003
Salary Total: $9,212
Total Pay: $37,023

Patrick Esteban holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $37,023. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Taylor Moles

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2023 total comp

$36,345

Base pay: $34,838
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,507
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,345
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Santa Clara
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,212
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253268610029
Salary Total: $6,337
Total Pay: $36,345

Taylor Moles holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $36,345. They are represented by R07.

Nadya Oliver

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2023 total comp

$36,248

Base pay: $33,775
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,474
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,248
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Monterey
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,916
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253268610039
Salary Total: $6,041
Total Pay: $36,248

Nadya Oliver is a Investigator at Motor Vehicles. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $36,248. Their bargaining unit is R07.

Marina Green

Investigator/Motor Vehicles

2025 total comp

$35,734

Base pay: $16,635
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $19,099
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,734
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R07
Work county: Solano
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,091
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5253478610027
Salary Total: $9,364
Total Pay: $35,734

Marina Green holds the role of Investigator at Motor Vehicles. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $35,734. They are represented by R07.