Minnesota / Agriculture Department / Research Scientist 2

Job-title file

Research Scientist 2

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

21 employees hold this title in Agriculture Department. Median total compensation for the role is $97,734, above the department median of $80,497.

Employees: 21
Total payroll: $2M
Role median: $97,734
Agency median: $80,497
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$72,600$102,532+

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

How total compensation varies among the 21 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 Minnesota

Research Scientist 2 is held in 8 Minnesota departments. In Agriculture Department, the median of $97,734 ranks #1 of 8.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Natural Resources Department

$97,702 · 47

Pollution Control Agency

$93,929 · 15

Health Department

$89,548 · 72

MN St Colleges & Universities

$80,891 · 2

MN Management & Budget

$80,075 · 6

Transportation Department

$73,109 · 2

Human Services Department

$41,401 · 2

Median total compensation for the Research Scientist 2 role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Research Scientist beyond Minnesota

This role is reported in 6 jurisdictions. In Minnesota, the median of $96,654 ranks #3 of 6. See Research Scientist across all of Minnesota →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$109,532 · 158

$104,459 · 760

$80,039 · 10

$73,100 · 13

$60,000 · 7

Median total compensation for comparable Research Scientistroles 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

Michele Swarbrick

Research Scientist 2/Agriculture Department

2024 total comp

$93,491

Sub-department: Chemistry/Toxicology Staff
Base pay: $93,491
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,491
Hire date: 2000-12-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Agriculture Department, Michele Swarbrick serves as a Research Scientist 2 within Chemistry/Toxicology Staff. They have served since 2000 (about 24 years), working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,491. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Monika Chandler

Research Scientist 2/Agriculture Department

2024 total comp

$93,491

Sub-department: Weed & Hemp Unit
Base pay: $93,491
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,491
Hire date: 2000-06-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Agriculture Department, Monika Chandler serves as a Research Scientist 2 within Weed & Hemp Unit. They have served since 2000 (about 24 years), working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,491. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Chelsey Penuel

Research Scientist 2/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$92,322

Sub-department: Pest Detection &MgmtUnitStaff
Base pay: $92,081
Overtime: $241
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $92,322
Hire date: 2022-03-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Chelsey Penuel works as a Research Scientist 2 for Agriculture Department within Pest Detection &Mgmtunitstaff. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years) as a full-time employee. Chelsey earned $92,322 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.