Bentz, Darci J
Jud District Court Chief JudgeTrial CourtsJackson CountyFull-time
Trial Court Judges. 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 165% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 78% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $199,622 | +5.0% | +3.1% | +1.8% |
| FY 2025 | $190,118 | +4.0% | +2.6% | +1.3% |
| FY 2024 | $182,805 | +8.0% | +3.3% | +4.6% |
| FY 2023 | $169,264 | +0.0% | +6.3% | −5.9% |
| FY 2022 | $169,264 | +2.5% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $165,136 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2020 | $161,108 | +2.5% | +1.6% | +0.9% |
| FY 2019 | $157,179 | +2.5% | +2.1% | +0.4% |
| FY 2018 | $153,345 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2017 | $149,605 | +4.0% | +1.8% | +2.1% |
| FY 2016 | $143,851 | +15.6% | +0.7% | +14.8% |
| FY 2015 | $124,452 | +81.6% | +0.7% | +80.3% |
| FY 2014 | $68,523 | −1.6% | +1.6% | −3.1% |
| FY 2013 | $69,611 | +3.5% | +1.7% | +1.8% |
| FY 2012 | $67,254 | −10.9% | +2.9% | −13.4% |
| FY 2011 | $75,471 | — | — | — |
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 · Jud District Court Chief Judge
Paid more than 20% of the 10 people with this job title that year. The median was $199,622.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
17 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Chief Judge Full-time | Jackson | $7,678 /2 wk | — | $199,622 |
| 2025 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Chief Judge Full-time | Jackson | $7,678 /2 wk | — | $190,118 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud Assistant Chief Judge Full-time | Jackson | $7,312 /2 wk | — | $182,805 |
| 2023 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud Assistant Chief Judge Full-time | Jackson | $7,031 /2 wk | — | $169,264 |
| 2022 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud Assistant Chief Judge Full-time | Jackson | $6,269 /2 wk | — | $169,264 |
| 2021 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud Assistant Chief Judge Full-time | Jackson | $6,510 /2 wk | — | $165,136 |
| 2020 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Jackson | $6,351 /2 wk | — | $161,108 |
| 2019 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Jackson | $6,196 /2 wk | — | $157,179 |
| 2018 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Jackson | $6,045 /2 wk | — | $153,345 |
| 2017 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Jackson | $5,898 /2 wk | — | $149,605 |
| 2016 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Jackson | $5,754 /2 wk | — | $143,851 |
| 2015 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Jackson | $5,533 /2 wk | — | $124,452 |
| 2015 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District Pt | Public Defense Asst Attorney Part-time · left during year | Blue Earth | $2,721 /2 wk | — | — |
| 2014 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District Pt | Public Defense Asst Attorney Part-time | Blue Earth | $2,652 /2 wk | — | $68,523 |
| 2013 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District Pt | Public Defense Asst Attorney Part-time | Blue Earth | $2,559 /2 wk | — | $69,611 |
| 2012 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District Pt | Public Defense Asst Attorney Part-time | Blue Earth | $2,491 /2 wk | — | $67,254 |
| 2011 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District Pt | Public Defense Asst Attorney Part-time | Blue Earth | $2,491 /2 wk | — | $75,471 |
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 Trial Courts
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lindahl-Pfieffer, Sarah R$217,269Jud District Administrator B
- Gonsalves, Sara Germain$214,079Jud District Administrator C
- Ellefson, Michelle R$210,990Jud District Administrator B
- Kendall, Heather M$210,989Jud District Administrator B
- Gardner, Victoria A$206,980Jud District Court Judge
- Jones, Brian E$206,898Jud District Administrator B
- Austad, Jana Marie$199,622Jud District Court Chief Judge
- Beckman, Stephanie Lynn$199,622Jud District Court Judge
Highest paid as Jud District Court Chief Judge
FY 2026, amount paid
- Austad, Jana Marie$199,622Trial Courts
- Fritz, Michael David$199,622Trial Courts
- Grewing, Sara$199,622Trial Courts
- Lehmann, Christopher J$199,622Trial Courts
- Long, Christine Anne$199,622Trial Courts
- Meyer, Kerry W$199,622Trial Courts
- Strand, Elizabeth H$199,622Trial Courts
- Hanson, Rodney Clay$190,117Trial Courts