Bjerken, Christopher S
State Patrol TrooperPublic Safety DeptPennington CountyFull-time
Thief River Falls D3200 Troope. 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 2020, pay went up 20% while consumer prices went up 16%. After inflation, pay is up 3% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $73,310 | −57.6% | +1.6% | −58.3% |
| FY 2019 | $173,047 | +113.9% | +2.1% | +109.6% |
| FY 2018 | $80,897 | −1.7% | +2.3% | −3.9% |
| FY 2017 | $82,334 | +0.3% | +1.8% | −1.5% |
| FY 2016 | $82,082 | +0.3% | +0.7% | −0.4% |
| FY 2015 | $81,846 | +6.8% | +0.7% | +6.0% |
| FY 2014 | $76,623 | +6.2% | +1.6% | +4.6% |
| FY 2013 | $72,149 | +0.4% | +1.7% | −1.3% |
| FY 2012 | $71,872 | +17.2% | +2.9% | +13.9% |
| FY 2011 | $61,319 | — | — | — |
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 2020 · State Patrol Trooper
Paid more than 22% of the 571 people with this job title that year. The median was $86,137.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
20 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time · left during year | Pennington | $39.38 /hr | $18 | $73,310 |
| 2020 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Alexandria TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Douglas | — | — | — |
| 2020 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2019 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $39.38 /hr | — | $173,047 |
| 2019 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $37.40 /hr | — | $80,897 |
| 2018 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2017 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $36.71 /hr | $1,819 | $82,334 |
| 2017 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $37.50 /hr | $3,068 | $82,082 |
| 2016 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2015 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $36.60 /hr | $2,709 | $81,846 |
| 2015 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $33.57 /hr | $2,635 | $76,623 |
| 2014 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2013 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $32.91 /hr | $1,561 | $72,149 |
| 2013 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $30.47 /hr | $3,924 | $71,872 |
| 2012 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU Th River Fl TC Faculty | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | Pennington | — | — | — |
| 2011 | Public Safety Dept Thief River Falls D3200 Troope | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Pennington | $29.31 /hr | $1,894 | $61,319 |
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 Public Safety Dept
FY 2020, amount paid
- Langer, Matthew C$177,843State Patrol Chief
- Brynell, Bruce G$163,058State Patrol Major
- Evans, Andrew W$158,003Superintendent BCA
- Theis, Michael A$157,622State Patrol Lieutenant
- O'Hern, Cassandra O$156,859Deputy Commr Public Safety
- Harrington, John Mark$154,696Commissioner-Public Safety
- Bartell, Diane Renee$152,989Information Syst Director
- Goman, Peter Jerome$150,247State Patrol Lieutenant
Highest paid as State Patrol Trooper
FY 2020, amount paid
- Lautigar, Michael R$143,973Public Safety Dept
- Willar, David J$135,000Public Safety Dept
- Krambeer, Adam James$134,315Public Safety Dept
- Gorski, Paul J$130,576Public Safety Dept
- Pederson, Kelly Ann$127,330Public Safety Dept
- Bormann, Eric D$120,761Public Safety Dept
- Schmidt, Aaron M$116,632Public Safety Dept
- Erickson, Wade C$115,290Public Safety Dept