Despenes, Thomas G
Airfield Fire FighterMilitary Affairs DeptSt Louis CountyFull-time
Duluth Fire Fighters A Shift. 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 86% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 26% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $82,442 | −0.7% | +3.1% | −3.8% |
| FY 2025 | $83,062 | +7.9% | +2.6% | +5.2% |
| FY 2024 | $76,958 | +1.5% | +3.3% | −1.7% |
| FY 2023 | $75,785 | +6.5% | +6.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2022 | $71,186 | +0.6% | +7.2% | −6.1% |
| FY 2021 | $70,764 | +4.4% | +2.3% | +2.1% |
| FY 2020 | $67,757 | +5.0% | +1.6% | +3.4% |
| FY 2019 | $64,537 | +5.8% | +2.1% | +3.7% |
| FY 2018 | $60,990 | +3.8% | +2.3% | +1.5% |
| FY 2017 | $58,782 | +5.4% | +1.8% | +3.5% |
| FY 2016 | $55,751 | +5.4% | +0.7% | +4.7% |
| FY 2015 | $52,871 | +5.8% | +0.7% | +5.1% |
| FY 2014 | $49,949 | +6.7% | +1.6% | +5.0% |
| FY 2013 | $46,818 | −0.4% | +1.7% | −2.1% |
| FY 2012 | $47,027 | +6.4% | +2.9% | +3.3% |
| FY 2011 | $44,212 | — | — | — |
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 · Airfield Fire Fighter
Paid more than 83% of the 29 people with this job title that year. The median was $72,623.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
16 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters A Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $29.68 /hr | $688 | $82,442 |
| 2025 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters A Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $29.24 /hr | $2,580 | $83,062 |
| 2024 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters A Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $27.98 /hr | — | $76,958 |
| 2023 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters A Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $26.52 /hr | — | $75,785 |
| 2022 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters A Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $25.87 /hr | — | $71,186 |
| 2021 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters C Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $25.24 /hr | $1,363 | $70,764 |
| 2020 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters C Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $24.62 /hr | — | $67,757 |
| 2019 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters C Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $24.08 /hr | — | $64,537 |
| 2018 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Fire Fighters C Shift | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $22.15 /hr | — | $60,990 |
| 2017 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $21.72 /hr | — | $58,782 |
| 2016 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $20.67 /hr | — | $55,751 |
| 2015 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $19.57 /hr | — | $52,871 |
| 2014 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $18.49 /hr | — | $49,949 |
| 2013 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $17.47 /hr | — | $46,818 |
| 2012 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $16.70 /hr | $243 | $47,027 |
| 2011 | Military Affairs Dept Duluth Airbase O and M | Airfield Fire Fighter Full-time | St Louis | $16.17 /hr | $582 | $44,212 |
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 Military Affairs Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Nierengarten, Gary Joseph$265,277State Prog Admin Prin
- Manke, Shawn P$212,537Adjutant General
- Sharkey, Joseph J$163,891Military Personnel
- Huberty, Gerald$154,713Airfield Fire Fighter Asst Chf
- Rohweder, Scott James$153,703Exec Dir Military Affairs
- LaBelle, Benjamin Park$148,503Military Personnel
- Schaefer, Simon L$145,670Military Personnel
- Tautges, Jeremy J$145,401Engineer Administrative
Highest paid as Airfield Fire Fighter
FY 2026, amount paid
- Sauer, Joseph Michael$100,449Military Affairs Dept
- South, Jay S$95,258Military Affairs Dept
- Springsteele, Daniel R$89,328Military Affairs Dept
- Dennison, Kevin James$83,991Military Affairs Dept
- Eckenberg, Jason D$80,369Military Affairs Dept
- Eisenbraun, Derek J$79,555Military Affairs Dept
- Cordie, Craig W$77,996Military Affairs Dept
- DeBondt, William S$76,788Military Affairs Dept