Bearbower, Rex A
Heavy Equip OperatorNatural Resources DeptFillmore CountyFull-time
Fish-R3 Conts Crew. 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 22% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is down 17% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $40,342 | −23.6% | +3.1% | −25.9% |
| FY 2025 | $52,827 | +6.1% | +2.6% | +3.4% |
| FY 2024 | $49,800 | +7.9% | +3.3% | +4.4% |
| FY 2023 | $46,167 | +9.0% | +6.3% | +2.6% |
| FY 2022 | $42,356 | +1.0% | +7.2% | −5.8% |
| FY 2021 | $41,948 | +4.0% | +2.3% | +1.7% |
| FY 2020 | $40,337 | +1.2% | +1.6% | −0.4% |
| FY 2019 | $39,865 | +2.3% | +2.1% | +0.2% |
| FY 2018 | $38,959 | +4.3% | +2.3% | +2.0% |
| FY 2017 | $37,361 | +4.3% | +1.8% | +2.4% |
| FY 2016 | $35,837 | +3.2% | +0.7% | +2.6% |
| FY 2015 | $34,712 | +3.4% | +0.7% | +2.7% |
| FY 2014 | $33,559 | +1.1% | +1.6% | −0.5% |
| FY 2013 | $33,199 | +4.2% | +1.7% | +2.5% |
| FY 2012 | $31,854 | −3.4% | +2.9% | −6.2% |
| FY 2011 | $32,978 | — | — | — |
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 · Heavy Equip Operator
Paid more than 0% of the 9 people with this job title that year. The median was $71,499.
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 Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Heavy Equip Operator Full-time · left during year | Fillmore | $33.57 /hr | — | $40,342 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Heavy Equip Operator Full-time | Fillmore | $33.07 /hr | — | $52,827 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Heavy Equip Operator Full-time | Fillmore | $31.65 /hr | — | $49,800 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Heavy Equip Operator Full-time | Fillmore | $29.16 /hr | — | $46,167 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Heavy Equip Operator Full-time | Fillmore | $27.62 /hr | — | $42,356 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $25.46 /hr | — | $41,948 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $24.84 /hr | — | $40,337 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $24.29 /hr | — | $39,865 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Construction Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $23.76 /hr | — | $38,959 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Construction Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $23.29 /hr | — | $37,361 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $22.72 /hr | — | $35,837 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $22.17 /hr | — | $34,712 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $21.52 /hr | — | $33,559 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew Paper | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $20.89 /hr | — | $33,199 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew Paper | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $20.48 /hr | — | $31,854 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R3 Conts Crew Paper | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Fillmore | $20.48 /hr | — | $32,978 |
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 Heavy Equip Operator
FY 2026, amount paid
- Normandin, Neil J$75,871Natural Resources Dept
- Hendricks, Todd A$72,920Military Affairs Dept
- Tiemann, William H$71,769Military Affairs Dept
- Scherping, Dean W$71,502Military Affairs Dept
- Kurowski, Douglas R$71,499Military Affairs Dept
- Hansen, Ronald W$71,490Military Affairs Dept
- Johannes, Sidney L$53,140Natural Resources Dept
- Schmid, Timothy J$53,140Natural Resources Dept