Brugen, Tom
Laborer Trades & EquipmentMinnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Campus & Fleet Operations. 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 2021 to FY 2024, pay went up 215% while consumer prices went up 18%. After inflation, pay is up 168% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024 | $13,879 | −77.6% | +3.3% | −78.3% |
| FY 2023 | $61,899 | +121.1% | +6.3% | +108.1% |
| FY 2022 | $27,996 | +535.7% | +7.2% | +493.1% |
| FY 2021 | $4,404 | — | — | — |
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 2024 · Laborer Trades & Equipment
Paid more than 3% of the 109 people with this job title that year. The median was $51,282.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Campus & Fleet Operations | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $26.75 /hr | $1,153 | $13,879 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Fleet & Grounds Mtce | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Dakota | $26.04 /hr | $6,083 | $61,899 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Building, Fleet & Grounds Mtce | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Dakota | $24.71 /hr | $921 | $27,996 |
| 2021 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Building, Fleet & Grounds Mtce | Laborer Trades & Equipment Intermittent | Dakota | $22.76 /hr | $273 | $4,404 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2024, amount paid
- Frawley, John$402,256Dir Zoological Gardens
- Cowen, Amy Ritter$164,783Zoo Deputy Director
- Mosher, Abigail E$157,225Admin Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$147,041Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$138,077Human Resources Director 3
- Tillery, Otha$138,077Plant Mgmt Dir
- Hall, Geoffrey$135,298Zoo Animal Programs Director
- Garity, Susan C$134,702Veterinarian
Highest paid as Laborer Trades & Equipment
FY 2024, amount paid
- Poppema, Jonathan Ryan$68,906Natural Resources Dept
- Simone, Thomas M$67,290Natural Resources Dept
- Thompson, Joseph R$65,476Corrections Dept
- Payne, Andrew S$64,819Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Engesser, Jared Bernhardt$64,717Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Kuebelbeck, Jeffrey David$64,385Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Callen, Ryan John$63,319Natural Resources Dept
- Dean, Preston M$62,305Natural Resources Dept