Decker, Andrew James
Plant Health Specialist 1Agriculture DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Seed Unit Staff. 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 2023 to FY 2026, pay went up 44% while consumer prices went up 9%. After inflation, pay is up 31% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $60,123 | +9.8% | +3.1% | +6.4% |
| FY 2025 | $54,778 | +12.9% | +2.6% | +10.0% |
| FY 2024 | $48,501 | +15.9% | +3.3% | +12.2% |
| FY 2023 | $41,860 | — | — | — |
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 · Plant Health Specialist 1
Paid more than 33% of the 6 people with this job title that year. The median was $65,180.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
4 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Agriculture Dept Seed Unit Staff | Plant Health Specialist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $28.26 /hr | $3,741 | $60,123 |
| 2025 | Agriculture Dept Potato Inspection Staff | Plant Industry Inspector 2 Full-time | Polk | $26.03 /hr | $3,492 | $54,778 |
| 2024 | Agriculture Dept Potato Inspection Staff | Plant Industry Inspector 1 Full-time | Polk | $22.26 /hr | $3,645 | $48,501 |
| 2023 | Agriculture Dept Potato Inspection Staff | Plant Industry Inspector 1 Full-time | Polk | $20.47 /hr | $797 | $41,860 |
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 Agriculture Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Vaubel, Andrea Fetherston$181,054Deputy Commr Agriculture
- Petersen, Thomas E.$180,829Commissioner-Agriculture
- Bailey, Patrice$167,153Asst Commr Agriculture
- Kjeseth, Peder Leif$166,417Asst Commr Agriculture
- Sis, Julie A$161,019Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Spanier, Douglas P$151,827General Counsel 1
- Hugunin, Paul S$150,081State Prog Admin Manager Prin
- Peck, Justin$149,071Management Analyst 3
Highest paid as Plant Health Specialist 1
FY 2026, amount paid
- McDonald, Kimberley Ann$74,084Agriculture Dept
- Sackett, Dani$71,913Agriculture Dept
- Larsen, John Christian$70,236Agriculture Dept
- Ziebarth, Kelsey Christine$59,752Agriculture Dept
- BernickLangworthy, Samuel$19,692Agriculture Dept