Strong, Lisa
Research Scientist 3Health DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
PHL ENV Metals Rad Staff. 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 2016 to FY 2026, pay went up 141% while consumer prices went up 38%. After inflation, pay is up 75% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $108,278 | +5.2% | +3.1% | +2.0% |
| FY 2025 | $102,907 | +8.6% | +2.6% | +5.8% |
| FY 2024 | $94,787 | +6.1% | +3.3% | +2.7% |
| FY 2023 | $89,377 | +12.5% | +6.3% | +5.8% |
| FY 2022 | $79,474 | +9.8% | +7.2% | +2.5% |
| FY 2021 | $72,377 | +12.9% | +2.3% | +10.4% |
| FY 2020 | $64,097 | +6.2% | +1.6% | +4.5% |
| FY 2019 | $60,383 | +6.0% | +2.1% | +3.8% |
| FY 2018 | $56,980 | +5.6% | +2.3% | +3.3% |
| FY 2017 | $53,944 | +20.2% | +1.8% | +18.0% |
| FY 2016 | $44,870 | — | — | — |
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 3
Paid more than 39% of the 186 people with this job title that year. The median was $114,993.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
11 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department PHL ENV Metals Rad Staff | Research Scientist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $53.32 /hr | — | $108,278 |
| 2025 | Health Department PHL ENV Biom/Emerg Contam Sta | Research Scientist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $50.69 /hr | — | $102,907 |
| 2024 | Health Department PHL ENV Biom/Emerg Contam Sta | Research Scientist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $46.82 /hr | — | $94,787 |
| 2023 | Health Department PHL ENV Biom/Emerg Contam Sta | Research Scientist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $42.67 /hr | — | $89,377 |
| 2022 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $34.82 /hr | $7,540 | $79,474 |
| 2021 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $32.79 /hr | $4,615 | $72,377 |
| 2020 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $30.93 /hr | $93 | $64,097 |
| 2019 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $29.18 /hr | — | $60,383 |
| 2018 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $27.53 /hr | — | $56,980 |
| 2017 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $26.06 /hr | — | $53,944 |
| 2016 | Health Department Biomon & Emerg Contaminant Stf | Research Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $24.60 /hr | — | $44,870 |
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 Health Department
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lynfield, Ruth$319,013Medical Specialist 4
- Lehnertz, Nicholas$273,587Medical Specialist 2
- Stadheim, Ruth$229,052State Prog Admin Coordinator
- Cunningham, Brooke$189,360Commissioner-Health
- Benson, Robin Christopher$188,266General Counsel 3
- Underwood, Wendy Lynne$187,354Deputy Commr Health
- Smith, Kirk E$185,409Epidemiologist Program Manager
- Desai, Jay$185,344Epidemiologist Program Manager
Highest paid as Research Scientist 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- Mah, Hared Ahmed$178,188Labor & Industry Dept
- Chiinze-Phiri, Bridget$149,085Human Services Dept
- Lindgren, Paula Gursky$143,462Health Department
- Loew, Megan$135,026Health Department
- Schreiber, Liana$121,055Health Department
- Roy, Charlotte L$119,097Natural Resources Dept
- Bevan, Martin J$118,815Health Department
- Musson, Amber$118,744Health Department