Ward, Cassandra
Laboratory Scientist 1Agriculture DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Plant Analysis Unit 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 2023 to FY 2025, pay went up 271% while consumer prices went up 6%. After inflation, pay is up 250% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $45,033 | −13.0% | +2.6% | −15.3% |
| FY 2024 | $51,790 | +327.1% | +3.3% | +313.4% |
| FY 2023 | $12,127 | — | — | — |
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 2025 · Laboratory Scientist 1
Paid more than 13% of the 15 people with this job title that year. The median was $58,850.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
3 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Agriculture Dept Plant Analysis Unit Staff | Laboratory Scientist 1 Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $26.95 /hr | — | $45,033 |
| 2024 | Agriculture Dept Plant Analysis Unit Staff | Laboratory Scientist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $24.92 /hr | $897 | $51,790 |
| 2023 | Agriculture Dept Plant Analysis Unit Staff | Seed Analyst Full-time | Ramsey | $19.56 /hr | — | $12,127 |
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 Agriculture Dept
FY 2025, amount paid
- Vaubel, Andrea Fetherston$178,228Deputy Commr Agriculture
- Petersen, Thomas E.$174,262Commissioner-Agriculture
- VanRyswyk, William S$160,235Hydrologist 4
- Bailey, Patrice$158,879Asst Commr Agriculture
- Kjeseth, Peder Leif$158,879Asst Commr Agriculture
- Sis, Julie A$158,565Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Peck, Justin$150,663Management Analyst 3
- Spanier, Douglas P$149,455General Counsel 1
Highest paid as Laboratory Scientist 1
FY 2025, amount paid
- Van Horn, Daniel B$79,676Health Department
- Brezina, Christopher$74,928Health Department
- Moses, Natalie Marie$65,613Health Department
- Koirala Pokharel, Surakchya$64,590Health Department
- Nava Olivas, Jose Francisco$64,362Health Department
- Machtemes, Josh$60,792Health Department
- Schulz, Caitlin$59,869Health Department
- Yang, Laura Baijia$58,850Health Department