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Patterson, Kristen

Research Scientist 2Natural Resources DeptKoochiching CountyFull-time

Fish - Habitat. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.

Total paid
$380,969
over 8 fiscal years
Latest year
$76,568
FY 2026
Highest year
$76,568
FY 2026
Yearly average
$47,621
across years on record
Change since first year
+551%
FY 2016 to FY 2026 · prices +38%

Pay by fiscal year

Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K201620182020202220242026
Paid in yearFY 2016 pay grown with consumer prices (CPI)

From FY 2016 to FY 2026, pay went up 551% while consumer prices went up 38%. After inflation, pay is up 373% (it beat inflation).

YearPaidChangePrices (CPI)After inflation
FY 2026$76,568+4.8%+3.1%+1.6%
FY 2025$73,084+57.8%+2.6%+53.7%
FY 2024$46,317−25.6%+3.3%−28.0%
FY 2023$62,243+8.2%+6.3%+1.8%
FY 2022$57,539+18.3%+7.2%+10.4%
FY 2021$48,644———
FY 2017$4,807−59.1%+1.8%−59.9%
FY 2016$11,766———

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 2026 · Research Scientist 2

Paid more than 16% of the 150 people with this job title that year. The median was $95,790.

Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.

See everyone with this job title

Every record

8 records, newest first

FYAgencyJob titleCountyBase payOvertimePaid
2026Natural Resources Dept
Fish - Habitat
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Koochiching$37.26 /hr—$76,568
2025Natural Resources Dept
Fish - Habitat
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Beltrami$35.43 /hr$283$73,084
2024Natural Resources Dept
Fish - Habitat
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Beltrami$32.71 /hr—$46,317
2023Natural Resources Dept
Fish - Habitat
Research Scientist 2
Full-time · left during year
Beltrami$31.00 /hr—$62,243
2022Natural Resources Dept
Fish - Habitat
Research Scientist 2
Full-time
Beltrami$29.19 /hr—$57,539
2021Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R2 Int'l Falls Staff
NR Spec Int Fisheries
Full-time
Koochiching$25.71 /hr—$48,644
2017Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Walker Staff
NR Fisheries Census Clerk
Part-time · left during year
Cass$15.46 /hr—$4,807
2016Natural Resources Dept
Fish-R1 Walker Staff
NR Fisheries Census Clerk
Part-time
Cass$15.08 /hr$265$11,766

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 Natural Resources Dept

FY 2026, amount paid

Highest paid as Research Scientist 2

FY 2026, amount paid