Interpret Naturalist 1

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

66 employees hold this title in Minnesota Zoological Garden. Median total compensation for the role is $8,668, below the department median of $46,651.

Employees: 66
Total payroll: $1.3M
Role median: $8,668
Agency median: $46,651
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$1,230$74,389+

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

How total compensation varies among the 66 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

Interpret Naturalist 1 is held in 2 Minnesota departments. In Minnesota Zoological Garden, the median of $8,668 ranks #2 of 2.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Natural Resources Department

$8,975 · 34

Median total compensation for the Interpret Naturalist 1 role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Leah Darst

Interpret Naturalist 1/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2024 total comp

$55,848

Sub-department: Outreach
Base pay: $55,190
Overtime: $636
Other pay: $22
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,848
Hire date: 2008-05-21
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.75
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Leah Darst serves as a Interpret Naturalist 1 within Outreach. They have served since 2008 (about 16 years), working part-time, 0.75 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $55,848. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Sara Swenson

Interpret Naturalist 1/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$55,408

Sub-department: Outreach
Base pay: $55,285
Overtime: $106
Other pay: $16
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,408
Hire date: 2019-12-26
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sara Swenson works as a Interpret Naturalist 1 for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Outreach. Their tenure dates to 2019, about 6 years as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. Sara earned $55,408 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.