Barnes, Melissa Jean
Transp Planning DirTransportation DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Rethinking I-94 & Comm Conn. 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 2013 to FY 2026, pay went up 912% while consumer prices went up 42%. After inflation, pay is up 614% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $157,292 | +1.7% | +3.1% | −1.4% |
| FY 2025 | $154,724 | +7.2% | +2.6% | +4.5% |
| FY 2024 | $144,312 | +5.0% | +3.3% | +1.6% |
| FY 2023 | $137,505 | +9.4% | +6.3% | +3.0% |
| FY 2022 | $125,638 | +5.4% | +7.2% | −1.6% |
| FY 2021 | $119,172 | +6.7% | +2.3% | +4.3% |
| FY 2020 | $111,721 | +7.5% | +1.6% | +5.9% |
| FY 2019 | $103,906 | +3.8% | +2.1% | +1.7% |
| FY 2018 | $100,076 | +3.5% | +2.3% | +1.2% |
| FY 2017 | $96,719 | +44.5% | +1.8% | +41.9% |
| FY 2016 | $66,912 | +17.9% | +0.7% | +17.1% |
| FY 2015 | $56,757 | −19.8% | +0.7% | −20.4% |
| FY 2014 | $70,780 | +355.2% | +1.6% | +348.2% |
| FY 2013 | $15,549 | — | — | — |
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 · Transp Planning Dir
Paid more than 53% of the 17 people with this job title that year. The median was $157,169.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
14 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Transportation Dept Rethinking I-94 & Comm Conn | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $75.66 /hr | — | $157,292 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept Rethinking I-94 & Comm Conn | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $74.54 /hr | — | $154,724 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept Rethinking I-94 & Comm Conn | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $71.23 /hr | — | $144,312 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept I-94 Project | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $63.02 /hr | — | $137,505 |
| 2022 | Transportation Dept North Area Manager | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $61.48 /hr | — | $125,638 |
| 2021 | Transportation Dept North Area Manager | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $58.18 /hr | — | $119,172 |
| 2020 | Transportation Dept North Area Manager | Transp Planning Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $55.38 /hr | — | $111,721 |
| 2019 | Transportation Dept North Area Manager | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $49.24 /hr | — | $103,906 |
| 2018 | Transportation Dept North Area Manager | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $48.16 /hr | — | $100,076 |
| 2017 | Transportation Dept Safety & Operations Management | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $47.22 /hr | — | $96,719 |
| 2016 | Transportation Dept Safety & Operations Management | Engineer Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $39.25 /hr | — | $66,912 |
| 2015 | Transportation Dept Safety & Operations Management | Engineer Senior Part-time | Ramsey | $39.25 /hr | — | $56,757 |
| 2014 | Transportation Dept Safety & Operations Management | Engineer Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $36.15 /hr | — | $70,780 |
| 2013 | Transportation Dept Safety & Operations Management | Engineer Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $33.77 /hr | — | $15,549 |
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 Transportation Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Fairbanks, Michael Joseph$207,651Engineer Administrative
- Wallace, Jean Marie$201,630Deputy Commr Transportation
- Daubenberger, Nancy Therese$197,945Commissioner-Transportation
- Severs, Sara V$196,965Deputy Commr Transportation
- Erickson, Daniel E$192,340Engineer Princ Admin Transp
- Beer, Michael G$188,409Transp Division Engineer
- Van Dyck, Karin L$188,262Transp Chief Admin Officer
- Solberg, Jon P$187,477Transp Asst Div Dir
Highest paid as Transp Planning Dir
FY 2026, amount paid
- Olds, Tara Elizabeth Wendling$167,038Transportation Dept
- Read, Jennifer$161,075Transportation Dept
- Mitchell, Timothy R$161,019Transportation Dept
- Tomasevich, Dmitry$159,565Transportation Dept
- Wilson, Ryan Donald$157,640Transportation Dept
- Charpentier, Luke$157,292Transportation Dept
- Weidemann, Patrick J$157,292Transportation Dept
- Lindeberg, Mark J$157,169Transportation Dept