Backman, Penny A
NR Spec Sr WLNatural Resources DeptSt Louis CountyFull-time
WL-R2 Tower 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 2011 to FY 2026, pay went up 80% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 21% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $89,270 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $87,888 | +4.5% | +2.6% | +1.8% |
| FY 2024 | $84,084 | +1.0% | +3.3% | −2.2% |
| FY 2023 | $83,249 | +0.1% | +6.3% | −5.8% |
| FY 2022 | $83,175 | +9.6% | +7.2% | +2.3% |
| FY 2021 | $75,876 | +1.9% | +2.3% | −0.4% |
| FY 2020 | $74,442 | +2.8% | +1.6% | +1.2% |
| FY 2019 | $72,429 | −0.1% | +2.1% | −2.1% |
| FY 2018 | $72,474 | −0.6% | +2.3% | −2.8% |
| FY 2017 | $72,897 | +3.0% | +1.8% | +1.1% |
| FY 2016 | $70,789 | +8.6% | +0.7% | +7.9% |
| FY 2015 | $65,192 | +11.4% | +0.7% | +10.6% |
| FY 2014 | $58,498 | +7.2% | +1.6% | +5.5% |
| FY 2013 | $54,583 | +5.0% | +1.7% | +3.2% |
| FY 2012 | $52,004 | +4.6% | +2.9% | +1.7% |
| FY 2011 | $49,700 | — | — | — |
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 · NR Spec Sr WL
Paid more than 39% of the 18 people with this job title that year. The median was $89,270.
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 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $42.94 /hr | — | $89,270 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $42.31 /hr | — | $87,888 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $40.49 /hr | — | $84,084 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $38.38 /hr | $461 | $83,249 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $37.44 /hr | $1,491 | $83,175 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $36.53 /hr | — | $75,876 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $35.64 /hr | $107 | $74,442 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $34.86 /hr | — | $72,429 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $34.09 /hr | — | $72,474 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $33.42 /hr | — | $72,897 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $32.60 /hr | $1,614 | $70,789 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $30.68 /hr | $1,081 | $65,192 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $28.72 /hr | — | $58,498 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $26.92 /hr | $240 | $54,583 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $25.51 /hr | $541 | $52,004 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Int'l Falls Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | St Louis | $24.61 /hr | $458 | $49,700 |
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
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Smith, Rodmen E$205,052NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$198,561Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$197,945Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Asst Commr NR Operations
- Richards, Jess W$185,409Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
Highest paid as NR Spec Sr WL
FY 2026, amount paid
- Kavanagh, Joshua T$98,042Natural Resources Dept
- Ramsden, Donald W$91,907Natural Resources Dept
- Pitt, Justin$90,962Natural Resources Dept
- North, Michael R$90,381Natural Resources Dept
- Call, Todd E$90,338Natural Resources Dept
- Geisen, Ann F$89,760Natural Resources Dept
- Thompson, Melissa$89,586Natural Resources Dept
- Hutchins, Emily$89,270Natural Resources Dept