Backstrom, Carol S
Asst Commr HealthHealth DepartmentSt Louis CountyFull-time
Asst Commr Health Systems. 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 154% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 71% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $174,964 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $172,245 | +25.8% | +2.6% | +22.6% |
| FY 2024 | $136,923 | — | — | — |
| FY 2014 | $46,867 | −33.1% | +1.6% | −34.1% |
| FY 2013 | $70,050 | — | — | — |
| FY 2011 | $69,010 | — | — | — |
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 · Asst Commr Health
Paid more than 20% of the 5 people with this job title that year. The median was $174,964.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
6 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department Asst Commr Health Systems | Asst Commr Health Full-time | St Louis | $84.16 /hr | — | $174,964 |
| 2025 | Health Department Asst Commr Health Systems | Asst Commr Health Full-time | St Louis | $82.92 /hr | — | $172,245 |
| 2024 | Health Department Asst Commr Health Systems | Asst Commr Health Full-time | St Louis | $79.35 /hr | — | $136,923 |
| 2014 | Human Services Dept Health Care Asst Commissioner | Senior Admin Officer Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $56.44 /hr | — | $46,867 |
| 2013 | Human Services Dept Health Care Asst Commissioner | Senior Admin Officer Full-time | Ramsey | $54.80 /hr | — | $70,050 |
| 2011 | Health Department Health Reform Coordination Sup | State Prog Admin Manager Prin Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $48.25 /hr | — | $69,010 |
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 Asst Commr Health
FY 2026, amount paid
- Kunas, Myra L$179,172Health Department
- Tura, Robsan$179,110Health Department
- Gresczyk, Melissa Kaye$174,964Health Department
- Cambronero, Imee Lynn$173,869Health Department