Cochran, Valarie C
Office & Admin SpecialistEducation DepartmentHennepin CountyFull-time
Office of Indian Education. 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 2016, pay went down 60% while consumer prices went up 8%. After inflation, pay is down 62% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2016 | $11,729 | −69.7% | +0.7% | −69.9% |
| FY 2015 | $38,655 | +11.5% | +0.7% | +10.7% |
| FY 2014 | $34,661 | +8.4% | +1.6% | +6.7% |
| FY 2013 | $31,983 | −4.3% | +1.7% | −5.8% |
| FY 2012 | $33,406 | +15.2% | +2.9% | +11.9% |
| FY 2011 | $29,002 | — | — | — |
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 2016 · Office & Admin Specialist
Paid more than 20% of the 558 people with this job title that year. The median was $31,832.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
6 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Education Department Office of Indian Education | Office & Admin Specialist Full-time · left during year | Hennepin | $19.29 /hr | — | $11,729 |
| 2015 | Education Department Office of Indian Education | Office & Admin Specialist Full-time | Hennepin | $18.82 /hr | — | $38,655 |
| 2014 | Education Department Office of Indian Education | Office & Admin Specialist Full-time | Hennepin | $18.27 /hr | — | $34,661 |
| 2013 | Education Department Equity & Innovation | Office & Admin Specialist Full-time | Hennepin | $17.74 /hr | — | $31,983 |
| 2012 | Education Department Equity & Innovation | Office & Admin Specialist Full-time | Hennepin | $17.39 /hr | — | $33,406 |
| 2011 | Education Department Equity & Innovation | Office & Admin Specialist Full-time | Hennepin | $17.39 /hr | — | $29,002 |
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 Education Department
FY 2016, amount paid
- Cassellius, Brenda L$148,259Commissioner-Education Dept
- Melcher, Thomas R$133,120Dir Education Finance
- Dibb, Steven$132,662Deputy Commr Education
- Anderson, Denise M$128,112Dir Education Finance
- Briner, Charlene F$128,112Senior Admin Officer
- Nguyen, Hue$126,142Asst Commr Education
- Dugan, Jennifer P$126,117Dir Statewide Assessment
- McHenry, Kevin C$125,680Asst Commr Education
Highest paid as Office & Admin Specialist
FY 2016, amount paid
- Schmeling, Yvonne R$49,389MN St Colleges & Universities
- Neu, Roxann E$47,030MN St Colleges & Universities
- Swanson, Kristi Mae$46,518Public Safety Dept
- Sigmund, Robyn J$46,297Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Moore, Carolyn D$43,841Public Safety Dept
- Grivna, Christine Ann$42,518Public Safety Dept
- Hallen, Carole J$41,642Public Safety Dept
- Willrich, Jennifer$41,566Revenue Dept