Golden, Benjamin C
Laborer GeneralNatural Resources DeptCrow Wing CountyFull-time
Fish-R2 Brainerd 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 2021 to FY 2024, pay went down 36% while consumer prices went up 18%. After inflation, pay is down 45% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024 | $1,638 | — | — | — |
| FY 2022 | $1,676 | −34.3% | +7.2% | −38.7% |
| FY 2021 | $2,553 | — | — | — |
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 2024 · Laborer General
Paid more than 8% of the 133 people with this job title that year. The median was $5,367.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
3 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd Staff | Laborer General Full-time · left during year | Crow Wing | $18.18 /hr | $192 | $1,638 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd Staff | Laborer General Full-time · left during year | Crow Wing | $16.81 /hr | — | $1,676 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd Staff | Laborer General Full-time · left during year | Crow Wing | $16.40 /hr | $669 | $2,553 |
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 2024, amount paid
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$186,832Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Smith, Rodmen E$186,413NR Dir - Enforcement
- Strommen, Sarah$185,304Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Leete, Jeanette H$175,817Management Analyst 4
- Richards, Jess W$174,620Asst Commr NR Operations
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$174,620Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$174,620Asst Commr NR Operations
- McGowan, Patrick M$172,611NR Spec 2 CO
Highest paid as Laborer General
FY 2024, amount paid
- Norenberg, Joshua Earl$47,547Natural Resources Dept
- Pilz, James D$45,967Corrections Dept
- Schleif, Michael Jeffery$44,377Natural Resources Dept
- Cotter, Jordan$42,422Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Dutchin, Alex$42,288Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Johannsen, Erik$41,990Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Magnuson, Mark L$41,518Natural Resources Dept
- Morris, Nancy M$41,288Natural Resources Dept