Texas / Department of Public Safety / Research Specialist V

Job-title file

Research Specialist V

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

10 employees hold this title in Department of Public Safety. Median total compensation for the role is $86,702, above the department median of $68,978.

Employees: 10
Total payroll: $886.1K
Role median: $86,702
Agency median: $68,978
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$70,489$105,519+

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

How total compensation varies among the 10 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 Texas

Research Specialist V is held in 12 Texas departments. In Department of Public Safety, the median of $86,702 ranks #6 of 12.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Texas Space Commission

$106,634 · 1

General Land Office

$104,641 · 1

Texas Workforce Commission

$92,179 · 1

Texas Department of Insurance

$90,000 · 2

Office of the Attorney General

$90,000 · 10

Texas Education Agency

$86,538 · 3

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

$84,897 · 1

Railroad Commission of Texas

$80,416 · 1

Department of Family and Protective Services

$79,800 · 29

Health and Human Services Commission

$76,515 · 43

Department of State Health Services

$72,556 · 30

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

Compare jurisdictions

Research Specialist beyond Texas

This role is reported in 4 jurisdictions. In Texas, the median of $71,662 ranks #1 of 4. See Research Specialist across all of Texas →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

South Carolina

$62,460 · 17

Massachusetts

$58,588 · 13

Missouri

$32,143 · 5

Median total compensation for comparable Research Specialist roles 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.

Same department

Other job titles in Department of Public Safety

Accounting Technician II 31
Administrative Assistant III 207
Administrative Assistant IV 167
Administrative Assistant V 32
Attorney II 31
Captain, Department of Public Safety 92
Clerk III 24
Corporal 350
Crime Laboratory Specialist II 99
Criminal Intelligence Analyst I 162
Criminal Intelligence Analyst II 31
Custodian IV 55
Customer Service Representative II 30
Director III 25
Director V 25
Director VIII 24
Forensic Scientist I 49
Forensic Scientist II 115
Forensic Scientist III 126
Forensic Scientist IV 63
Forensic Scientist V 22
Forensic Scientist VI 65
Inspector III 137
Investigator II 38
Investigator III 94
Investigator IV 84
IT Support Specialist IV 27
License and Permit Specialist I 377
License and Permit Specialist II 1,593
License and Permit Specialist III 572
License and Permit Specialist IV 209
Lieutenant, Department of Public Safety 287
Maintenance Specialist III 31
Major, Department of Public Safety 45
Manager I 68
Manager IV 39
Manager V 127
Manager VI 26
Manager VII 38
Pilot Investigator II 32
Police Communications Oper V 65
Police Communications Oper VI 43
Police Communications Oper VII 27
Probationary Trooper 259
Program Management Specialist II 22
Program Specialist I 21
Program Specialist IV 28
Program Specialist V 39
Program Specialist VI 27
Program Specialist VII 29
Program Supervisor IV 212
Program Supervisor V 60
Security Officer III 31
Security Officer IV 30
Sergeant, Department of Public Safety 1,439
Systems Analyst V 42
Systems Analyst VI 26
Training and Development Specialist IV 22
Trooper 2,166
Trooper Trainee 141

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Christine Ceniceros

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$106,634

Base pay: $106,634
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,634
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Jan 1, 1998
Monthly Pay: $8,886
State Employee Number: 200231

At Department of Public Safety, Christine Ceniceros serves as a Research Specialist V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $106,634.

Cathleen Mcclain

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$100,440

Base pay: $100,440
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,440
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: V

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Dec 15, 2003
Monthly Pay: $8,370
State Employee Number: 190523

Cathleen Mcclain works as a Research Specialist V for Department of Public Safety. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Cathleen earned $100,440 in 2026.

Cassandra Richey

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$97,394

Base pay: $97,394
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,394
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Feb 5, 2001
Monthly Pay: $8,116
State Employee Number: 153586

At Department of Public Safety, Cassandra Richey serves as a Research Specialist V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $97,394.

Chrystal Davila

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$95,730

Base pay: $95,730
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,730
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Mar 25, 2013
Monthly Pay: $7,977
State Employee Number: 336369

Chrystal Davila holds the role of Research Specialist V at Department of Public Safety. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $95,730.

Melanie Ruzicka

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$87,535

Base pay: $87,535
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,535
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Sep 1, 2017
Monthly Pay: $7,295
State Employee Number: 1084038

Melanie Ruzicka is a Research Specialist V at Department of Public Safety. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $87,535.

Sarah Shiver

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$85,869

Base pay: $85,869
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,869
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Nov 1, 2023
Monthly Pay: $7,156
State Employee Number: 692313

Sarah Shiver holds the role of Research Specialist V at Department of Public Safety. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $85,869.

Kevin Moyer

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$81,961

Base pay: $81,961
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,961
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Aug 15, 2020
Monthly Pay: $6,830
State Employee Number: 1272311

Kevin Moyer is a Research Specialist V at Department of Public Safety. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $81,961.

Andrew Sheely

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$81,961

Base pay: $81,961
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,961
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Mar 15, 2020
Monthly Pay: $6,830
State Employee Number: 1253129

At Department of Public Safety, Andrew Sheely serves as a Research Specialist V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $81,961.

Alissa Perez

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$78,059

Base pay: $78,059
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,059
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Apr 3, 2013
Monthly Pay: $6,505
State Employee Number: 336186

Alissa Perez works as a Research Specialist V for Department of Public Safety. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Alissa earned $78,059 in 2026.

Alison Padula

Research Specialist V/Department of Public Safety

2026 total comp

$70,489

Base pay: $70,489
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,489
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 608
Hire Date: Sep 1, 2021
Monthly Pay: $5,874
State Employee Number: 1420954

At Department of Public Safety, Alison Padula serves as a Research Specialist V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $70,489.