Crook, Donald A
Interpret Naturalist 1Minnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Ambassador Animals. 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 2025, pay went up 100% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is up 39% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $78,695 | +12.2% | +2.6% | +9.4% |
| FY 2024 | $70,108 | +1.1% | +3.3% | −2.1% |
| FY 2023 | $69,313 | +6.3% | +6.3% | +0.1% |
| FY 2022 | $65,184 | +2.6% | +7.2% | −4.2% |
| FY 2021 | $63,508 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2020 | $61,974 | +3.5% | +1.6% | +1.9% |
| FY 2019 | $59,877 | +2.2% | +2.1% | +0.1% |
| FY 2018 | $58,586 | +2.4% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2017 | $57,203 | +8.7% | +1.8% | +6.7% |
| FY 2016 | $52,637 | +7.1% | +0.7% | +6.4% |
| FY 2015 | $49,158 | +7.4% | +0.7% | +6.6% |
| FY 2014 | $45,777 | +7.9% | +1.6% | +6.2% |
| FY 2013 | $42,422 | +1.6% | +1.7% | −0.0% |
| FY 2012 | $41,748 | +6.2% | +2.9% | +3.1% |
| FY 2011 | $39,325 | — | — | — |
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 2025 · Interpret Naturalist 1
Paid more than 99% of the 80 people with this job title that year. The median was $9,531.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
15 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $34.18 /hr | $1,543 | $78,695 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $32.71 /hr | $1,595 | $70,108 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $31.00 /hr | $1,912 | $69,313 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Ambassador Animals | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $30.24 /hr | $1,648 | $65,184 |
| 2021 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $29.50 /hr | $1,246 | $63,508 |
| 2020 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $28.78 /hr | $550 | $61,974 |
| 2019 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $28.15 /hr | $324 | $59,877 |
| 2018 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $27.53 /hr | $341 | $58,586 |
| 2017 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $26.99 /hr | $276 | $57,203 |
| 2016 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $25.42 /hr | $199 | $52,637 |
| 2015 | MN Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $24.00 /hr | $108 | $49,158 |
| 2014 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $22.48 /hr | $179 | $45,777 |
| 2013 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $21.11 /hr | — | $42,422 |
| 2012 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $20.02 /hr | — | $41,748 |
| 2011 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $19.33 /hr | $130 | $39,325 |
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 2025, amount paid
- Frawley, John$405,933Dir Zoological Gardens
- Cowen, Amy Ritter$164,824Zoo Deputy Director
- Mosher, Abigail E$160,488Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$157,059Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Tillery, Otha$145,022Plant Mgmt Dir
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$144,327Human Resources Director 3
- Garity, Susan C$142,651Veterinarian
- Berlin, Erin Rachel$134,053Veterinarian
Highest paid as Interpret Naturalist 1
FY 2025, amount paid
- Kluever, Michaela E$74,566Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Mochinski, Laurel Lee$73,975Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Endert, Emily Beth$73,848Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Armstrong, Judy C$73,287Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Tasa, Alexandria Z$73,177Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Ness, Christine I$72,016Minnesota Zoological Garden
- McDermott, Taryn Marie$66,950Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Johnson Magle, Jean Momoe$62,916Minnesota Zoological Garden