Cords, Wayne C
Pollution Cont Division DirPollution Control AgencyBlue Earth CountyFull-time
OPERATIONS DIVISION. 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 2026, pay went up 168% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 81% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $161,075 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $158,565 | +7.2% | +2.6% | +4.4% |
| FY 2024 | $147,916 | +4.4% | +3.3% | +1.0% |
| FY 2023 | $141,727 | +17.0% | +6.3% | +10.1% |
| FY 2022 | $121,113 | +1.1% | +7.2% | −5.7% |
| FY 2021 | $119,776 | +3.4% | +2.3% | +1.1% |
| FY 2020 | $115,858 | +5.1% | +1.6% | +3.5% |
| FY 2019 | $110,227 | +4.9% | +2.1% | +2.7% |
| FY 2018 | $105,123 | +3.3% | +2.3% | +1.0% |
| FY 2017 | $101,761 | +10.8% | +1.8% | +8.8% |
| FY 2016 | $91,874 | +3.1% | +0.7% | +2.4% |
| FY 2015 | $89,103 | +22.8% | +0.7% | +21.9% |
| FY 2014 | $72,578 | +7.8% | +1.6% | +6.2% |
| FY 2013 | $67,298 | +9.4% | +1.7% | +7.6% |
| FY 2012 | $61,510 | +2.4% | +2.9% | −0.5% |
| FY 2011 | $60,052 | — | — | — |
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 · Pollution Cont Division Dir
Paid more than 75% of the 8 people with this job title that year. The median was $157,292.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
17 records, newest first
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 Pollution Control Agency
FY 2026, amount paid
- Benke, David J$206,695Pollution Cont Division Dir
- Kessler, Katrina$187,081Commissioner-Pollution Control
- Tester, Peter Lund$185,681Deputy Commr Pollution Control
- Kohlasch, Frank L$179,172Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Koudelka, Kirk G$179,172Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Vanderbosch, Dana A$174,964Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Fredrickson, Leslie$163,659General Counsel 2
- Anderson, Pamela Marie Skon$157,292Pollution Cont Division Dir
Highest paid as Pollution Cont Division Dir
FY 2026, amount paid
- Benke, David J$206,695Pollution Control Agency
- Anderson, Pamela Marie Skon$157,292Pollution Control Agency
- Burman, Sandeep R$157,292Pollution Control Agency
- Skuta, Glenn Delles$157,292Pollution Control Agency
- Blasing, Nicole R$151,303Pollution Control Agency
- Ahlers-Nelson, Courtney A$144,223Pollution Control Agency
- Southerland, Korey Lynn$122,672Pollution Control Agency