Armstrong, Judy C
Interpret Naturalist 1Minnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Ambassador Animals Cur. 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 2011 to FY 2026, pay went up 51% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 2% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $74,000 | +1.0% | +3.1% | −2.1% |
| FY 2025 | $73,287 | +4.7% | +2.6% | +2.0% |
| FY 2024 | $70,011 | +1.4% | +3.3% | −1.8% |
| FY 2023 | $69,032 | +6.2% | +6.3% | −0.0% |
| FY 2022 | $64,974 | +3.0% | +7.2% | −3.9% |
| FY 2021 | $63,103 | +6.9% | +2.3% | +4.4% |
| FY 2020 | $59,056 | +0.9% | +1.6% | −0.7% |
| FY 2019 | $58,533 | +1.4% | +2.1% | −0.6% |
| FY 2018 | $57,698 | +0.4% | +2.3% | −1.8% |
| FY 2017 | $57,441 | +1.6% | +1.8% | −0.2% |
| FY 2016 | $56,544 | +4.3% | +0.7% | +3.6% |
| FY 2015 | $54,203 | +4.1% | +0.7% | +3.4% |
| FY 2014 | $52,051 | +3.7% | +1.6% | +2.1% |
| FY 2013 | $50,213 | −2.7% | +1.7% | −4.3% |
| FY 2012 | $51,611 | +5.1% | +2.9% | +2.1% |
| FY 2011 | $49,122 | — | — | — |
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 · Interpret Naturalist 1
Paid more than 94% of the 79 people with this job title that year. The median was $10,502.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
16 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals Cur | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $34.69 /hr | $1,327 | $74,000 |
| 2025 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $34.18 /hr | $1,877 | $73,287 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $32.71 /hr | $1,465 | $70,011 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $31.00 /hr | $1,618 | $69,032 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $30.24 /hr | $1,383 | $64,974 |
| 2021 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $29.50 /hr | $649 | $63,103 |
| 2020 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $28.78 /hr | — | $59,056 |
| 2019 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $28.15 /hr | $190 | $58,533 |
| 2018 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $27.53 /hr | $158 | $57,698 |
| 2017 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $26.99 /hr | $81 | $57,441 |
| 2016 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $26.33 /hr | $227 | $56,544 |
| 2015 | MN Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $25.69 /hr | — | $54,203 |
| 2014 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $24.94 /hr | — | $52,051 |
| 2013 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $24.21 /hr | — | $50,213 |
| 2012 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $23.74 /hr | — | $51,611 |
| 2011 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $23.74 /hr | $603 | $49,122 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2026, amount paid
- Frawley, John$421,176Dir Zoological Gardens
- Mosher, Abigail E$163,030Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$161,019Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Garity, Susan C$149,247Veterinarian
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$146,607Human Resources Director 3
- Tillery, Otha$146,607Plant Mgmt Dir
- Kochevar, Randall$144,059Zoo Animal Programs Director
- Hoye, Pamela Ann$134,577State Prog Admin Manager Sr
Highest paid as Interpret Naturalist 1
FY 2026, amount paid
- Tasa, Alexandria Z$76,008Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Mochinski, Laurel Lee$74,924Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Endert, Emily Beth$74,725Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Kluever, Michaela E$74,429Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Johnson Magle, Jean Momoe$66,116Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Swenson, Sara Christina$58,510Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Cocchiarella, Daniel Stephen$55,988Natural Resources Dept
- Fairbanks, Anna M$42,066Natural Resources Dept