Benson, Laura
State Prog Admin PrinOffice of Higher EducationRamsey CountyFull-time
Dual Trng MN GI Bill Ind Schd. 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 2023 to FY 2026, pay went up 45% while consumer prices went up 9%. After inflation, pay is up 33% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $99,421 | +1.2% | +3.1% | −1.8% |
| FY 2025 | $98,204 | +21.4% | +2.6% | +18.3% |
| FY 2024 | $80,894 | +18.1% | +3.3% | +14.3% |
| FY 2023 | $68,525 | — | — | — |
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 · State Prog Admin Prin
Paid more than 89% of the 696 people with this job title that year. The median was $94,375.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
4 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Office of Higher Education Dual Trng MN GI Bill Ind Schd | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $47.76 /hr | — | $99,421 |
| 2025 | Office of Higher Education Dual Trng MN GI Bill Ind Schd | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $47.05 /hr | — | $98,204 |
| 2024 | Office of Higher Education Dual Trng MN GI Bill Ind Schd | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $39.06 /hr | — | $80,894 |
| 2023 | Office of Higher Education Dual Trng MN GI Bill Ind Schd | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $35.69 /hr | — | $68,525 |
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 Office of Higher Education
FY 2026, amount paid
- Olson Jr, Dennis W$185,181Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu
- Wold, Andrew D$170,464General Counsel 2
- Sullivan, Winnie$162,864OHE Senior Executive
- Sanford, Thomas W$155,783OHE Executive
- Robinson, Wendy Sue$151,949OHE Executive
- Hovis, Keith R.$151,413OHE Executive
- Yang, Poawit$140,117OHE Director
- Morris, Nora E$139,230OHE Director
Highest paid as State Prog Admin Prin
FY 2026, amount paid
- Nierengarten, Gary Joseph$265,277Military Affairs Dept
- Erickson, Brian$129,620Agriculture Dept
- McCanney, James$123,794Transportation Dept
- Johnson, Robert A$118,153Natural Resources Dept
- Yang, Teri L$116,288Mn Management & Budget
- Schaefer, Benjamin J$115,087Natural Resources Dept
- Cullimore, Miriam Eleanor$113,881Office of Higher Education
- Kitto, Danielle N$113,189Public Safety Dept