Warnecke, Samantha A
Forensic Scientist 3Public Safety DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
BCA Lab Toxicology 2. 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 2018 to FY 2026, pay went up 163% while consumer prices went up 32%. After inflation, pay is up 99% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $97,635 | +10.8% | +3.1% | +7.4% |
| FY 2025 | $88,145 | +16.6% | +2.6% | +13.6% |
| FY 2024 | $75,614 | +6.0% | +3.3% | +2.6% |
| FY 2023 | $71,326 | +8.9% | +6.3% | +2.5% |
| FY 2022 | $65,476 | +6.3% | +7.2% | −0.9% |
| FY 2021 | $61,622 | +11.2% | +2.3% | +8.7% |
| FY 2020 | $55,398 | +8.7% | +1.6% | +7.0% |
| FY 2019 | $50,966 | +37.1% | +2.1% | +34.3% |
| FY 2018 | $37,168 | — | — | — |
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 · Forensic Scientist 3
Paid more than 19% of the 27 people with this job title that year. The median was $118,550.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
9 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology 2 | Forensic Scientist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $47.76 /hr | — | $97,635 |
| 2025 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology 2 | Forensic Scientist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $45.47 /hr | — | $88,145 |
| 2024 | Public Safety Dept BCA LAB TOXICOLOGY | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $37.65 /hr | $224 | $75,614 |
| 2023 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology | Forensic Scientist 2 Part-time | Ramsey | $34.45 /hr | $357 | $71,326 |
| 2022 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $32.49 /hr | — | $65,476 |
| 2021 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $30.59 /hr | — | $61,622 |
| 2020 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology | Forensic Scientist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $28.78 /hr | — | $55,398 |
| 2019 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology | Forensic Scientist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $25.37 /hr | — | $50,966 |
| 2018 | Public Safety Dept BCA Lab Toxicology | Forensic Scientist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $23.99 /hr | — | $37,168 |
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 2026, amount paid
- Krambeer, Adam James$246,089State Patrol Trooper
- Barthel, Eric J$241,240State Patrol Captain
- Stricker, Paul G.$227,992State Patrol Trooper
- Engeldinger, Jason H$220,634State Patrol Captain
- Farmakes, John D$219,560State Patrol Lieutenant
- Yang, Dau Mong$207,791State Patrol Trooper
- Evans, Andrew W$206,747Superintendent BCA
- Erickson, Thomas Michael$205,456State Patrol Trooper
Highest paid as Forensic Scientist 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- Anderson, McKenzie$147,587Public Safety Dept
- Roche, Kathryn M$145,598Public Safety Dept
- Pfeiffer, Sarah E$136,699Public Safety Dept
- Perez, Vanessa$130,992Public Safety Dept
- Thomas, Ross D$128,353Public Safety Dept
- Schoenbauer, Dolores A$127,655Public Safety Dept
- Gross, Ann M$125,537Public Safety Dept
- Goldstrand, Sara Lyn$119,686Public Safety Dept