Ehmke, Lee C.
Dir Zoological GardensMinnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Minnesota Zoo Div Directors. 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 2016, pay went down 47% while consumer prices went up 8%. After inflation, pay is down 50% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2016 | $116,998 | −52.7% | +0.7% | −53.0% |
| FY 2015 | $247,437 | +0.1% | +0.7% | −0.6% |
| FY 2014 | $247,180 | +3.7% | +1.6% | +2.1% |
| FY 2013 | $238,462 | +4.8% | +1.7% | +3.1% |
| FY 2012 | $227,578 | +3.8% | +2.9% | +0.9% |
| FY 2011 | $219,149 | — | — | — |
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 2016 · Dir Zoological Gardens
Too few people share this job title that year to make a fair comparison.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
6 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Minnesota Zoo Div Directors | Dir Zoological Gardens Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $118.96 /hr | — | $116,998 |
| 2015 | MN Zoological Garden Minnesota Zoo Div Directors | Dir Zoological Gardens Full-time | Dakota | $118.96 /hr | — | $247,437 |
| 2014 | MN Zoological Garden Minnesota Zoo Div Directors | Dir Zoological Gardens Full-time | Dakota | $118.96 /hr | — | $247,180 |
| 2013 | MN Zoological Garden Minnesota Zoo Div Directors | Dir Zoological Gardens Full-time | Dakota | $114.94 /hr | — | $238,462 |
| 2012 | MN Zoological Garden Minnesota Zoo Div Directors | Dir Zoological Gardens Full-time | Dakota | $105.36 /hr | — | $227,578 |
| 2011 | MN Zoological Garden Minnesota Zoo Div Directors | Dir Zoological Gardens Full-time | Dakota | $105.36 /hr | — | $219,149 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2016, amount paid
- Willis, Kevin$127,149Zoo Animal Programs Director
- Burns, Elizabeth$105,240Zoo Strategic Services Dir
- Rasmussen, James M$103,460Veterinarian Senior
- Ramlall, Dhanmati S$101,579Accounting Officer Senior
- Fisher, Anthony J$101,497Zoo Conservation Manager
- Willis, Doranne Beth Leilani$99,424Zoo Sales & Marketing Manager
- Edwards, Lucinda M$97,862State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Frawley, John$92,261Dir Zoological Gardens
Highest paid as Dir Zoological Gardens
FY 2016, amount paid
- Frawley, John$92,261Minnesota Zoological Garden