Debner, Melinda
Interpret Naturalist 1Natural Resources DeptFillmore CountyFull-time
PAT-R3 Forestville CaveStaff. 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 2024 to FY 2025, pay went up 213% while consumer prices went up 3%. After inflation, pay is up 205% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $12,212 | +212.9% | +2.6% | +204.9% |
| FY 2024 | $3,903 | — | — | — |
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 59% 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
2 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Forestville CaveStaff | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time · left during year | Fillmore | $24.42 /hr | $391 | $12,212 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Forestville CaveStaff | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Fillmore | $23.37 /hr | $187 | $3,903 |
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 2025, amount paid
- Legato, Denise F$240,971Human Resources Director 5
- Smith, Rodmen E$197,180NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$195,536Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$190,763Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Mohs, Philip Andrew$185,010NR Prog Mgr 2 - Enforcement
- Olfelt, David P$184,957State Prog Admin Manager Prin
- Speldrich, Brent J$183,786NR Dist Supv - Enforcement
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$182,518Asst Commr NR Operations
Highest paid as Interpret Naturalist 1
FY 2025, amount paid
- Crook, Donald A$78,695Minnesota Zoological Garden
- 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