Berens, Stephanie L
Jud District Court Law ClerkTrial CourtsCottonwood CountyFull-time
5th Cottonwood Judge. 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 2016 to FY 2026, pay went up 1,143% while consumer prices went up 38%. After inflation, pay is up 804% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $83,094 | +0.7% | +3.1% | −2.3% |
| FY 2025 | $82,476 | +9.1% | +2.6% | +6.3% |
| FY 2024 | $75,580 | +14.2% | +3.3% | +10.5% |
| FY 2023 | $66,205 | +9.8% | +6.3% | +3.3% |
| FY 2022 | $60,297 | +3.0% | +7.2% | −3.9% |
| FY 2021 | $58,559 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2020 | $57,150 | +4.5% | +1.6% | +2.9% |
| FY 2019 | $54,686 | +3.0% | +2.1% | +0.9% |
| FY 2018 | $53,088 | +3.0% | +2.3% | +0.7% |
| FY 2017 | $51,534 | +671.1% | +1.8% | +657.1% |
| FY 2016 | $6,684 | — | — | — |
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 Law Clerk
Paid more than 94% of the 419 people with this job title that year. The median was $66,852.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
11 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $39.00 /hr | — | $83,094 |
| 2025 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $38.61 /hr | — | $82,476 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $36.59 /hr | — | $75,580 |
| 2023 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $28.35 /hr | — | $66,205 |
| 2022 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $28.35 /hr | — | $60,297 |
| 2021 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $27.66 /hr | — | $58,559 |
| 2020 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $26.99 /hr | — | $57,150 |
| 2019 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $26.33 /hr | — | $54,686 |
| 2018 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $25.56 /hr | — | $53,088 |
| 2017 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $24.82 /hr | — | $51,534 |
| 2016 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $23.87 /hr | — | $6,684 |
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 Law Clerk
FY 2026, amount paid
- Mazzarese, Sheree L$85,934Trial Courts
- Shirk, Yvonne DW$85,934Trial Courts
- Schaefer, Gregory$85,524Trial Courts
- Bergerson, Jamian S$85,434Trial Courts
- Metzen, Joseph H$85,434Trial Courts
- Arndt, David Alden$85,310Trial Courts
- Gardner, Leanne Kay$85,207Trial Courts
- Anderson, Valerie A$85,044Trial Courts