Cho, Sook Ja
Epidemiologist PrincipalHealth DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
CFH CYSHN Birth Def Monit/Anal. 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 2013 to FY 2026, pay went up 635% while consumer prices went up 42%. After inflation, pay is up 419% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $123,386 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $121,461 | +4.1% | +2.6% | +1.4% |
| FY 2024 | $116,699 | −0.1% | +3.3% | −3.3% |
| FY 2023 | $116,872 | +10.7% | +6.3% | +4.2% |
| FY 2022 | $105,583 | +6.5% | +7.2% | −0.7% |
| FY 2021 | $99,170 | +6.9% | +2.3% | +4.5% |
| FY 2020 | $92,780 | +5.9% | +1.6% | +4.3% |
| FY 2019 | $87,622 | +6.0% | +2.1% | +3.8% |
| FY 2018 | $82,698 | +6.0% | +2.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2017 | $78,032 | +6.2% | +1.8% | +4.3% |
| FY 2016 | $73,478 | +6.2% | +0.7% | +5.5% |
| FY 2015 | $69,157 | +6.8% | +0.7% | +6.0% |
| FY 2014 | $64,779 | +286.0% | +1.6% | +280.0% |
| FY 2013 | $16,783 | — | — | — |
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 · Epidemiologist Principal
Paid more than 75% of the 20 people with this job title that year. The median was $116,896.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
14 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department CFH CYSHN Birth Def Monit/Anal | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $59.35 /hr | — | $123,386 |
| 2025 | Health Department CFH CYSHN Birth Def Monit/Anal | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $58.47 /hr | — | $121,461 |
| 2024 | Health Department CFH CYSHN Birth Def Monit/Anal | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $55.95 /hr | — | $116,699 |
| 2023 | Health Department CFH CYSHN Birth Def Monit/Anal | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $53.03 /hr | — | $116,872 |
| 2022 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $51.74 /hr | — | $105,583 |
| 2021 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $48.78 /hr | $141 | $99,170 |
| 2020 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $45.99 /hr | — | $92,780 |
| 2019 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $43.28 /hr | — | $87,622 |
| 2018 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $40.84 /hr | — | $82,698 |
| 2017 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $38.64 /hr | — | $78,032 |
| 2016 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $36.25 /hr | — | $73,478 |
| 2015 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $34.18 /hr | — | $69,157 |
| 2014 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $31.99 /hr | — | $64,779 |
| 2013 | Health Department Birth Defects Monit & Analysis | Epidemiologist Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $29.97 /hr | — | $16,783 |
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 Health Department
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lynfield, Ruth$319,013Medical Specialist 4
- Lehnertz, Nicholas$273,587Medical Specialist 2
- Stadheim, Ruth$229,052State Prog Admin Coordinator
- Cunningham, Brooke$189,360Commissioner-Health
- Benson, Robin Christopher$188,266General Counsel 3
- Underwood, Wendy Lynne$187,354Deputy Commr Health
- Smith, Kirk E$185,409Epidemiologist Program Manager
- Desai, Jay$185,344Epidemiologist Program Manager
Highest paid as Epidemiologist Principal
FY 2026, amount paid
- Bogdan, Alexander Richard$125,345Health Department
- Johnson, Sarah E$123,386Health Department
- Raleigh, Katherine$123,386Health Department
- Sheff, Mira G$123,386Health Department
- Clark, Kristen Kay$123,385Health Department
- Kidney, Renee S$123,385Health Department
- Zabel, Erik$123,385Health Department
- Wright, Nathan Murphy$121,339Health Department