Minnesota / Natural Resources Department / Research Scientist 2

Job-title file

Research Scientist 2

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

47 employees hold this title in Natural Resources Department. Median total compensation for the role is $97,702, above the department median of $66,596.

Employees: 47
Total payroll: $4.1M
Role median: $97,702
Agency median: $66,596
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$24,237$100,315+

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

How total compensation varies among the 47 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 Natural Resources Department, the median of $97,702 ranks #2 of 8.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Agriculture Department

$97,734 · 21

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

Steven Koski

Research Scientist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$73,668

Sub-department: L&M Mine Waste Characterizatio
Base pay: $73,668
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,668
Hire date: 2014-08-04
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: St Louis

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Steven Koski is a Research Scientist 2 at Natural Resources Department within L&M Mine Waste Characterizatio. Their tenure dates to 2014, about 11 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $73,668. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Kristen Patterson

Research Scientist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$73,084

Sub-department: Fish - Habitat
Base pay: $72,800
Overtime: $283
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,084
Hire date: 2015-12-28
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: Beltrami

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kristen Patterson works as a Research Scientist 2 for Natural Resources Department within Fish - Habitat. Their tenure dates to 2015, about 10 years as a full-time employee. Kristen earned $73,084 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Tyler Obermoller

Research Scientist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$70,543

Sub-department: WL-R4 Res Madelia Staff
Base pay: $69,043
Overtime: $223
Other pay: $1,277
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,543
Hire date: 2013-09-24
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: Watonwan

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Tyler Obermoller holds the role of Research Scientist 2 at Natural Resources Department within Wl-R4 Res Madelia Staff. Their tenure dates to 2013, about 12 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $70,543. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.