James, Donna Joann
Forensic Scientist 2Public Safety DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
BCA LAB I&M 1. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.
Pay by fiscal year
Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.
From FY 2020 to FY 2024, pay went down 75% while consumer prices went up 20%. After inflation, pay is down 79% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024 | $13,724 | −80.7% | +3.3% | −81.3% |
| FY 2023 | $71,053 | +8.8% | +6.3% | +2.4% |
| FY 2022 | $65,297 | +7.7% | +7.2% | +0.5% |
| FY 2021 | $60,640 | +9.8% | +2.3% | +7.4% |
| FY 2020 | $55,212 | — | — | — |
Each change compares a year with the one before. Large swings usually come from a partial year, extra hours or a change of job rather than a raise. Prices: Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, U.S. city average) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, averaged July to June; FY 2026 uses 11 months because October 2025 was not published.
Compared with the same job title
FY 2024 · Forensic Scientist 2
Paid more than 1% of the 68 people with this job title that year. The median was $79,812.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
5 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Public Safety Dept BCA LAB I&M 1 | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $35.13 /hr | — | $13,724 |
| 2023 | Public Safety Dept BCA LAB Impress & Materials | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $33.30 /hr | $1,199 | $71,053 |
| 2022 | Public Safety Dept BCA LAB Impress & Materials | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $31.35 /hr | $914 | $65,297 |
| 2021 | Public Safety Dept BCA LAB Impress & Materials | Forensic Scientist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $28.48 /hr | $1,768 | $60,640 |
| 2020 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Pattern Evid & Materia | Forensic Scientist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $26.89 /hr | — | $55,212 |
The state reports one pay total per person per year, covering all of their positions, so it appears on one of that year’s lines and the others show no separate pay.
Highest paid in Public Safety Dept
FY 2024, amount paid
- Langer, Matthew$295,234State Patrol Chief
- Lautigar, Michael R$227,682State Patrol Trooper
- Meagher, Sean A$218,604Proj Functional Manager
- Stearns, Jeffery J$200,676State Patrol Trooper
- Wahl, Adiel S$197,110State Patrol Trooper
- Miletich, Dana J$196,727State Patrol Lieutenant
- Krambeer, Adam James$196,613State Patrol Trooper
- Happke, Keith G.$193,628State Patrol Trooper
Highest paid as Forensic Scientist 2
FY 2024, amount paid
- Pfeiffer, Sarah E$124,973Public Safety Dept
- Roche, Kathryn M$117,632Public Safety Dept
- Matzke, Brent Arthur$112,896Public Safety Dept
- Thomas, Ross D$111,375Public Safety Dept
- Folsom, Amber M$109,382Public Safety Dept
- Koolen, Martin C$106,801Public Safety Dept
- Granlund, Amy T$106,125Public Safety Dept
- Berget, Alexis Amanda$106,004Public Safety Dept