Minnesota / Health Department / Research Scientist 2

Job-title file

Research Scientist 2

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

72 employees hold this title in Health Department. Median total compensation for the role is $89,548, below the department median of $90,184.

Employees: 72
Total payroll: $5.7M
Role median: $89,548
Agency median: $90,184
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$6,145$98,595+

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

How total compensation varies among the 72 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 Health Department, the median of $89,548 ranks #4 of 8.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Agriculture Department

$97,734 · 21

Natural Resources Department

$97,702 · 47

Pollution Control Agency

$93,929 · 15

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

Ashley Chavez

Research Scientist 2/Health Department

2025 total comp

$75,249

Sub-department: IPMH-Evaluation Unit
Base pay: $75,249
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,249
Hire date: 2022-11-02
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: H12
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Ashley Chavez holds the role of Research Scientist 2 at Health Department within Ipmh-Evaluation Unit. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $75,249. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Cullen Cunningham

Research Scientist 2/Health Department

2025 total comp

$74,723

Sub-department: PHL ENV Biom/Emerg Contam Sta
Base pay: $74,723
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,723
Hire date: 2023-01-04
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: H12
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Cullen Cunningham works as a Research Scientist 2 for Health Department within Phl Environmental Biom/Emerg Contam Sta. Hired in 2023, they have about 2 years of service as a full-time employee. Cullen earned $74,723 in 2025. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Lara Fallon

Research Scientist 2/Health Department

2025 total comp

$72,922

Sub-department: PHL ENV Biom/Emerg Contam Sta
Base pay: $72,922
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,922
Hire date: 2024-07-15
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: H12
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lara Fallon holds the role of Research Scientist 2 at Health Department within Phl Environmental Biom/Emerg Contam Sta. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $72,922. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Nathan Ferrey

Research Scientist 2/Health Department

2025 total comp

$72,770

Sub-department: PHL Emerging Contaminants Unit
Base pay: $72,770
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,770
Hire date: 2024-07-17
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: H12
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Nathan Ferrey works as a Research Scientist 2 for Health Department within Phl Emerging Contaminants Unit. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a full-time employee. Nathan earned $72,770 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Nelmary Hernandez-Alvarado

Research Scientist 2/Health Department

2025 total comp

$71,516

Sub-department: PHL NBS Core/Molecular Staff
Base pay: $71,516
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,516
Hire date: 2024-09-25
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: H12
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Health Department, Nelmary Hernandez-Alvarado serves as a Research Scientist 2 within Phl Nbs Core/Molecular Staff. They have served since 2024 (about a year), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $71,516. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Analise Dickinson

Research Scientist 2/Health Department

2024 total comp

$70,933

Sub-department: Data Strat/InterOp Tech Ast St
Base pay: $70,933
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,933
Hire date: 2023-08-07
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: H12
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Analise Dickinson holds the role of Research Scientist 2 at Health Department within Data Strat/Interop Technician Ast St. Hired in 2023, they have about a year of service as a full-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $70,933. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.