Dotson, Marion C
CookVeterans Affairs DeptDakota CountyFull-time
MVH-Hastings Dietary. 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 2015 to FY 2026, pay went down 68% while consumer prices went up 38%. After inflation, pay is down 77% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $5,197 | −90.2% | +3.1% | −90.5% |
| FY 2025 | $52,801 | −1.6% | +2.6% | −4.1% |
| FY 2024 | $53,634 | +253.3% | +3.3% | +242.0% |
| FY 2023 | $15,182 | −62.5% | +6.3% | −64.7% |
| FY 2022 | $40,443 | −8.5% | +7.2% | −14.6% |
| FY 2021 | $44,196 | −11.1% | +2.3% | −13.1% |
| FY 2020 | $49,726 | +7.2% | +1.6% | +5.5% |
| FY 2019 | $46,402 | +18.8% | +2.1% | +16.3% |
| FY 2018 | $39,073 | +41.2% | +2.3% | +38.1% |
| FY 2017 | $27,679 | +19.4% | +1.8% | +17.2% |
| FY 2016 | $23,184 | +42.4% | +0.7% | +41.4% |
| FY 2015 | $16,286 | — | — | — |
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 · Cook
Paid more than 4% of the 93 people with this job title that year. The median was $48,342.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
17 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $26.86 /hr | $78 | $5,197 |
| 2025 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $25.77 /hr | $9,369 | $52,801 |
| 2024 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $23.97 /hr | $6,555 | $53,634 |
| 2023 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $22.15 /hr | $1,728 | $15,182 |
| 2022 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $21.10 /hr | $1,891 | $40,443 |
| 2021 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $20.59 /hr | $2,015 | $44,196 |
| 2020 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $20.09 /hr | $6,833 | $49,726 |
| 2019 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $19.17 /hr | $6,195 | $46,402 |
| 2018 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Full-time | Dakota | $18.20 /hr | $5,203 | $39,073 |
| 2018 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Food Service Worker Part-time · left during year | Dakota | $15.92 /hr | — | — |
| 2017 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Food Service Worker Part-time | Dakota | $15.61 /hr | $2,195 | $27,679 |
| 2017 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Intermittent | Dakota | $17.43 /hr | — | — |
| 2016 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Food Service Worker Intermittent | Dakota | $14.89 /hr | $1,193 | $23,184 |
| 2016 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Intermittent | Dakota | $16.63 /hr | — | — |
| 2016 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Intermittent | Dakota | $16.63 /hr | — | — |
| 2015 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Cook Intermittent | Dakota | $15.85 /hr | $403 | $16,286 |
| 2015 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Hastings Dietary | Food Service Worker Intermittent | Dakota | $13.96 /hr | — | — |
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 Veterans Affairs Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Ercan-Fang, Sean$306,781Medical Specialist 4
- Saleem, Javaid$243,486Medical Specialist 3
- Nelson, Bryan Allen$239,851Medical Specialist 3
- Hagans, Elnora M$213,140Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Kayes, Shahrior$211,071Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Chalupsky, Paulina$201,138Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Weir, Andrew P$194,254Pharmacist Manager
- Cline, James Michael$187,214Medical Specialist 3
Highest paid as Cook
FY 2026, amount paid
- Quito, Angelo Adrian$79,659Veterans Affairs Dept
- Benshoof, Melissa$75,756Veterans Affairs Dept
- Chester, Patrick Lee$71,954Veterans Affairs Dept
- Rikess, Robert William$68,440Veterans Affairs Dept
- Arthur, Charles S$67,988Veterans Affairs Dept
- Hartmann, Gayle Ann$67,906Veterans Affairs Dept
- Joslin, Jared Andrew$67,636Veterans Affairs Dept
- Collins, Leo Patrick$67,566Veterans Affairs Dept