California / Transportation / Research Data Specialist I

Job-title file

Research Data Specialist I

Collect and analyze data to inform decisions, produce reports, and identify trends.

28 employees hold this title in Transportation. Median total compensation for the role is $92,870, below the department median of $94,114.

Employees: 28
Total payroll: $2.5M
Role median: $92,870
Agency median: $94,114
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$50$117,728+

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.

Compared with the local labor market

Research Data Specialist I pay vs. California

Across all employers in California, the median wage for Database Architects — about 6,210 people — is $170,160. Transportation pays a median base salary of $97,019 for this role, 43% below that figure — below the 10th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Transportation sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$101,200

$132,880

$170,160

$203,130

$227,900

Transportation median · $97,019

The bar is the range of annual wages for Database Architects across every employer in California, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Transportation’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Database Architects — about 67,140 people — is $139,500. Transportation’s median base salary is 30% below that national figure, about the 17th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$86,240

$109,370

$139,500

$169,290

$204,000

Transportation median · $97,019

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the California range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 82 of 94 people in this role paid at least $25,000 in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Transportation is $95,180, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across California

Research Data Specialist I is held in 67 California departments. In Transportation, the median of $92,870 ranks #24 of 67.

Highest-paying departments for this role

State Comp Insurance Fund

$110,344 · 2

Finance

$108,597 · 2

Industrial Relations

$102,852 · 6

Student Aid Commission

$102,098 · 1

Water Resources Control Board

$101,988 · 3

Community on Teacher Credentialing

$101,988 · 1

CA. Transportation Commission

$101,988 · 1

Wildlife Conservation Board

$101,988 · 1

Department of Cannabis Control

$101,888 · 1

Veterans Affairs

$101,388 · 1

Forestry and Fire Protection

$100,969 · 23

Conservation

$100,604 · 10

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

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Ilham Khachadourian

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$133,603

Sub-department: District 6
Base pay: $86,408
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $47,196
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,603
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Fresno

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9061005742001
Salary Total: $8,043
Total Pay: $133,603

Ilham Khachadourian works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 6. Their status is full-time. Ilham earned $133,603 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Paula Wright

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$104,204

Sub-department: District 6
Base pay: $101,388
Overtime: $2,266
Other pay: $550
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $104,204
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9067005742001
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $104,204

Paula Wright is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 6. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $104,204. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Doua Lee

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$102,171

Sub-department: District 6
Base pay: $99,543
Overtime: $2,028
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,171
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9061005742002
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $102,171

Doua Lee holds the role of Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 6. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $102,171. Union affiliation: R01.

Afsaneh Rafii

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$101,988

Sub-department: District 7
Base pay: $101,388
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,988
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9073485742001
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $101,988

Afsaneh Rafii works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 7. Their status is full-time. Afsaneh earned $101,988 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Landon Hodnett

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$101,988

Sub-department: Headquarters Operations
Base pay: $101,388
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,988
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9133505742001
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $101,988

Landon Hodnett works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within Headquarters Operations. Their status is full-time. Landon earned $101,988 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Sidra Pauly

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$101,988

Sub-department: Headquarters Operations
Base pay: $101,388
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,988
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9131555742006
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $101,988

Sidra Pauly holds the role of Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within Headquarters Operations. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $101,988. They are represented by R01.

Mihai Giurgiulescu

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$101,758

Sub-department: District 9
Base pay: $101,388
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $370
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,758
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Inyo

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9091015742001
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $101,758

Mihai Giurgiulescu works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 9. Their status is full-time. Mihai earned $101,758 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Mina Gholami Jorshari

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$101,602

Sub-department: Headquarters Operations
Base pay: $101,002
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,602
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9134005742001
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $101,602

Mina Gholami Jorshari holds the role of Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within Headquarters Operations. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $101,602. Union affiliation: R01.

Saeideh Sharifzadeh

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$101,343

Sub-department: District 7
Base pay: $100,743
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $101,343
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9073025742001
Salary Total: $8,445
Total Pay: $101,343

Saeideh Sharifzadeh is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 7. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $101,343. They are represented by R01.

Patricia Marrufo

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$97,815

Sub-department: District 8
Base pay: $97,215
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,815
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: San Bernardino

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,482
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9086085742600
Salary Total: $8,228
Total Pay: $97,815

Patricia Marrufo works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 8. Their status is full-time. Patricia earned $97,815 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Demetrious Kitchens

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$97,423

Sub-department: District 11
Base pay: $96,823
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,423
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,482
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9111005742001
Salary Total: $8,228
Total Pay: $97,423

Demetrious Kitchens works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 11. Their status is full-time. Demetrious earned $97,423 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Kassandra Rodriguez

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$96,646

Sub-department: District 3
Base pay: $96,046
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,646
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Yuba

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,414
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9038015742001
Salary Total: $8,162
Total Pay: $96,646

Kassandra Rodriguez holds the role of Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 3. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $96,646. They are represented by R01.

Alexander Gould

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$95,560

Sub-department: District 9
Base pay: $94,887
Overtime: $73
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,560
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Inyo

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,484
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9092055742911
Salary Total: $8,229
Total Pay: $95,560

Alexander Gould is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 9. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $95,560. They are represented by R01.

David Long

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$93,888

Sub-department: District 11
Base pay: $93,288
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,888
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,444
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9111005742002
Salary Total: $8,191
Total Pay: $93,888

David Long works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 11. Their status is full-time. David earned $93,888 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Jennifer Blake

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2023 total comp

$91,853

Sub-department: District 9
Base pay: $89,433
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,420
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,853
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Inyo

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,815
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9091015742918
Salary Total: $7,815
Total Pay: $91,853

Jennifer Blake holds the role of Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 9. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $91,853. They are represented by R01.

Natalie Amberg

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$90,206

Sub-department: Transportation/Administration
Base pay: $89,606
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,206
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,079
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9000645742600
Salary Total: $7,837
Total Pay: $90,206

Natalie Amberg is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within Transportation/Administration. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $90,206. They are represented by R01.

Austin Demshar

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$89,885

Sub-department: District 3
Base pay: $89,285
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $89,885
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Yuba

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,079
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9032005742003
Salary Total: $7,837
Total Pay: $89,885

At Transportation, Austin Demshar serves as a Research Data Specialist I within District 3. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $89,885. They are represented by R01.

Heidi Schuyler

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$87,030

Sub-department: Transportation/Administration
Base pay: $86,430
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,030
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,665
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5591505742002
Salary Total: $7,435
Total Pay: $87,030

Heidi Schuyler works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within Transportation/Administration. Their status is full-time. Heidi earned $87,030 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Kelly Knapp

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$84,888

Sub-department: Headquarters Operations
Base pay: $84,288
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,888
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,662
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9131555742913
Salary Total: $7,432
Total Pay: $84,888

At Transportation, Kelly Knapp serves as a Research Data Specialist I within Headquarters Operations. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $84,888. They are represented by R01.

Sai Sandesh Donkeshwar

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$84,298

Sub-department: District 11
Base pay: $83,698
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,298
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: San Diego

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,303
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9111005742003
Salary Total: $7,084
Total Pay: $84,298

Sai Sandesh Donkeshwar works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 11. Their status is full-time. Sai earned $84,298 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Xi Wang

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$82,946

Sub-department: District 3
Base pay: $82,346
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,946
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Yuba

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,303
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9032005742001
Salary Total: $7,084
Total Pay: $82,946

Xi Wang holds the role of Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 3. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $82,946. Union affiliation: R01.

Jose Basa

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$82,896

Sub-department: District 3
Base pay: $82,296
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,896
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Yuba
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,328
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9032005742002
Salary Total: $7,108
Total Pay: $82,896

Jose Basa is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 3. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $82,896. Union affiliation: R01.

Kevin O'Sullivan

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$82,021

Sub-department: District 2
Base pay: $81,671
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,021
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Shasta
Middle name: V

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,303
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9028005742001
Salary Total: $7,084
Total Pay: $82,021

Kevin O'Sullivan is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 2. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $82,021. They are represented by R01.

Brian Schanzenbach

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2024 total comp

$81,548

Sub-department: Headquarters Operations
Base pay: $78,292
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,256
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,548
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,775
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9132505742911
Salary Total: $6,775
Total Pay: $81,548

At Transportation, Brian Schanzenbach serves as a Research Data Specialist I within Headquarters Operations. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $81,548. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Jeffrey Wood

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$72,896

Sub-department: District 12
Base pay: $72,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,896
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Orange
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,303
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9126015742918
Salary Total: $6,660
Total Pay: $72,896

Jeffrey Wood is a Research Data Specialist I at Transportation within District 12. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $72,896. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Christina Sundman

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$66,950

Sub-department: District 1
Base pay: $63,695
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,255
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,950
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,698
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9278015742001
Salary Total: $7,467
Total Pay: $66,950

Christina Sundman works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 1. Their status is full-time. Christina earned $66,950 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Geneva Lovett

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$55,332

Sub-department: Headquarters Operations
Base pay: $54,982
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,332
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,955
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9131555742008
Salary Total: $6,425
Total Pay: $55,332

Geneva Lovett works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within Headquarters Operations. Their status is full-time. Geneva earned $55,332 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Jonathan Osborn

Research Data Specialist I/Transportation

2025 total comp

$50

Sub-department: District 7
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $50
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $50
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,452
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 9071635742001
Salary Total: $8,452
Total Pay: $50

Jonathan Osborn works as a Research Data Specialist I for Transportation within District 7. Their status is full-time. Jonathan earned $50 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R01.