Cary, Robert John
Staff Attorney 3Natural Resources DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
DNR General Counsel. 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 2015 to FY 2026, pay went up 179% while consumer prices went up 38%. After inflation, pay is up 102% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $131,879 | +5.2% | +3.1% | +2.0% |
| FY 2025 | $125,320 | −0.5% | +2.6% | −3.0% |
| FY 2024 | $125,932 | +17.9% | +3.3% | +14.1% |
| FY 2023 | $106,820 | +10.5% | +6.3% | +4.0% |
| FY 2022 | $96,701 | +6.2% | +7.2% | −0.9% |
| FY 2021 | $91,040 | +6.6% | +2.3% | +4.2% |
| FY 2020 | $85,412 | +5.8% | +1.6% | +4.1% |
| FY 2019 | $80,760 | +8.8% | +2.1% | +6.5% |
| FY 2018 | $74,259 | +6.3% | +2.3% | +4.0% |
| FY 2017 | $69,840 | +14.1% | +1.8% | +12.0% |
| FY 2016 | $61,207 | +29.7% | +0.7% | +28.8% |
| FY 2015 | $47,206 | — | — | — |
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 · Staff Attorney 3
Paid more than 62% of the 81 people with this job title that year. The median was $126,356.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
12 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | Staff Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $63.69 /hr | — | $131,879 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | Staff Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $60.57 /hr | — | $125,320 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | Staff Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $55.95 /hr | — | $125,932 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $49.53 /hr | — | $106,820 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $48.32 /hr | — | $96,701 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $45.36 /hr | — | $91,040 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $42.70 /hr | — | $85,412 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $40.30 /hr | — | $80,760 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept DNR General Counsel | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $37.90 /hr | — | $74,259 |
| 2017 | Attorney General Attorney General's Office/Uncl | S1 (Attorney General's Office) Full-time | Ramsey | $34.50 /hr | — | $69,840 |
| 2016 | Attorney General Attorney General's Office/Uncl | S1 (Attorney General's Office) Full-time | Ramsey | $32.10 /hr | — | $61,207 |
| 2015 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Court of Appeals Law Clerk Full-time | Ramsey | $25.65 /hr | — | $47,206 |
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 Natural Resources Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Smith, Rodmen E$205,052NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$198,561Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$197,945Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Asst Commr NR Operations
- Richards, Jess W$185,409Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
Highest paid as Staff Attorney 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- Petroski, Andrew S$144,122Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Kwong, Justin A$141,409Health Department
- Ellis, Derek R$137,149Human Services Dept
- Bethke, Lauren C$136,356Secretary of State
- Hilding, Derek A$136,347Natural Resources Dept
- Ziezulewicz, Paul$135,099Human Services Dept
- Steenhoek, Sarah W$133,408Human Services Dept
- Slator, Kevin T$133,408Human Services Dept