Dean, Preston M
Engineering Aide SeniorNatural Resources DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
ECO Waters Field Mon Ops 1. 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 2012 to FY 2026, pay went up 1,725% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is up 1,167% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $84,432 | +4.4% | +3.1% | +1.2% |
| FY 2025 | $80,910 | +29.9% | +2.6% | +26.5% |
| FY 2024 | $62,305 | −0.5% | +3.3% | −3.6% |
| FY 2023 | $62,595 | +3.9% | +6.3% | −2.2% |
| FY 2022 | $60,258 | +10.5% | +7.2% | +3.1% |
| FY 2021 | $54,532 | +0.6% | +2.3% | −1.7% |
| FY 2020 | $54,225 | +3.0% | +1.6% | +1.5% |
| FY 2019 | $52,621 | +2.6% | +2.1% | +0.5% |
| FY 2018 | $51,306 | +5.2% | +2.3% | +2.8% |
| FY 2017 | $48,788 | +12.2% | +1.8% | +10.2% |
| FY 2016 | $43,478 | +21.3% | +0.7% | +20.5% |
| FY 2015 | $35,848 | +10.9% | +0.7% | +10.1% |
| FY 2014 | $32,334 | +28.4% | +1.6% | +26.4% |
| FY 2013 | $25,185 | +444.4% | +1.7% | +435.4% |
| FY 2012 | $4,627 | — | — | — |
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 · Engineering Aide Senior
Too few people share this job title that year to make a fair comparison.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
15 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Field Mon Ops 1 | Engineering Aide Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $37.20 /hr | $7,170 | $84,432 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Field Mon Ops 1 | Engineering Aide Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $36.65 /hr | $5,448 | $80,910 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Field Mon Ops 1 | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Ramsey | $28.22 /hr | $3,500 | $62,305 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Water & LandSurveys | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Ramsey | $26.75 /hr | $4,509 | $62,595 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Water & LandSurveys | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Ramsey | $26.10 /hr | $5,706 | $60,258 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Water & LandSurveys | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Ramsey | $25.46 /hr | $1,489 | $54,532 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Water & LandSurveys | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Ramsey | $24.84 /hr | $2,680 | $54,225 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Field Mon Ops 2 | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Ramsey | $24.29 /hr | $1,875 | $52,621 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept F&W Roving Crew-Reg 3 | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time | Dakota | $23.55 /hr | $3,095 | $51,306 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept F&W Roving Crew-Reg 3 | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time | Dakota | $22.39 /hr | $3,031 | $48,788 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept F&W Roving Crew-Reg 3 | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time | Dakota | $21.19 /hr | $3,875 | $43,478 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters Field Mon Ops 2 | Laborer General Full-time | Ramsey | $15.27 /hr | $4,655 | $35,848 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Asst Reg Staff | Laborer General Full-time | Chippewa | $14.51 /hr | $2,720 | $32,334 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Asst Reg Staff | Laborer General Full-time | Brown | $13.78 /hr | $4,117 | $25,185 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R1 Karlstad Staff | Laborer General Part-time · left during year | Kittson | $13.20 /hr | $970 | $4,627 |
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 Engineering Aide Senior
FY 2026, amount paid
- Plovnick, Daniel Victor$83,586Natural Resources Dept
- Hendricks, Joel Robert$75,864Natural Resources Dept
- Soltis, Andrew$69,369Natural Resources Dept