Gessler, Walter A
NR Area Supv WildlifeNatural Resources DeptChippewa CountyFull-time
WL-R4 LQP. 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 25% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $102,679 | −12.1% | +3.1% | −14.8% |
| FY 2025 | $116,808 | +20.3% | +2.6% | +17.2% |
| FY 2024 | $97,086 | −6.0% | +3.3% | −9.0% |
| FY 2023 | $103,249 | +0.7% | +6.3% | −5.2% |
| FY 2022 | $102,496 | +17.5% | +7.2% | +9.6% |
| FY 2021 | $87,241 | +0.4% | +2.3% | −1.9% |
| FY 2020 | $86,889 | +1.7% | +1.6% | +0.1% |
| FY 2019 | $85,438 | +3.6% | +2.1% | +1.5% |
| FY 2018 | $82,498 | +6.1% | +2.3% | +3.8% |
| FY 2017 | $77,732 | +6.3% | +1.8% | +4.4% |
| FY 2016 | $73,114 | +9.3% | +0.7% | +8.5% |
| FY 2015 | $66,915 | +4.3% | +0.7% | +3.6% |
| FY 2014 | $64,152 | −1.4% | +1.6% | −2.9% |
| FY 2013 | $65,042 | +3.9% | +1.7% | +2.2% |
| FY 2012 | $62,589 | +13.4% | +2.9% | +10.1% |
| FY 2011 | $55,208 | — | — | — |
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 · NR Area Supv Wildlife
Paid more than 50% of the 30 people with this job title that year. The median was $102,679.
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 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $49.39 /hr | — | $102,679 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $48.66 /hr | $15,729 | $116,808 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $46.56 /hr | $405 | $97,086 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $44.13 /hr | $6,553 | $103,249 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $43.05 /hr | $11,494 | $102,496 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $42.00 /hr | — | $87,241 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $40.98 /hr | — | $86,889 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $40.08 /hr | — | $85,438 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $39.20 /hr | — | $82,498 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP | NR Area Supv Wildlife Full-time | Chippewa | $38.43 /hr | — | $77,732 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept F&W Operations | State Prog Admin Supervisor Sr Full-time | Chippewa | $33.59 /hr | $2,672 | $73,114 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept F&W Operations | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | Chippewa | $31.80 /hr | $525 | $66,915 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | Chippewa | $30.87 /hr | — | $64,152 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | Brown | $29.97 /hr | $4,354 | $65,042 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Staff | NR Spec Sr WL Full-time | Brown | $28.35 /hr | $5,133 | $62,589 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Tower/Eveleth Staff | NR Spec Int Wildlife Full-time | St Louis | $26.39 /hr | $317 | $55,208 |
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 2026, amount paid
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Smith, Rodmen E$205,052NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$198,561Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$197,945Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Asst Commr NR Operations
- Richards, Jess W$185,409Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
Highest paid as NR Area Supv Wildlife
FY 2026, amount paid
- Snavely, Nicholas R$119,697Natural Resources Dept
- Netland, Cory Henry$112,769Natural Resources Dept
- Nyborg, Brian Michael$106,816Natural Resources Dept
- Piepgras, Stephen A$106,033Natural Resources Dept
- Liddell, Beaulin L$105,157Natural Resources Dept
- Marion, Tim J$105,145Natural Resources Dept
- Franke, Douglas C$105,123Natural Resources Dept
- Hansen, Nancy$104,076Natural Resources Dept