Johnson, Kirk M
State Prog Admin PrinNatural Resources DeptItasca CountyFull-time
FOR Protection Air Ops 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 2011 to FY 2026, pay went up 333% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 192% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $88,907 | +39.4% | +3.1% | +35.1% |
| FY 2025 | $63,792 | +2.5% | +2.6% | −0.1% |
| FY 2024 | $62,207 | +0.5% | +3.3% | −2.7% |
| FY 2023 | $61,908 | −10.7% | +6.3% | −16.0% |
| FY 2022 | $69,323 | +14.9% | +7.2% | +7.2% |
| FY 2021 | $60,343 | −0.8% | +2.3% | −3.0% |
| FY 2020 | $60,825 | −0.9% | +1.6% | −2.4% |
| FY 2019 | $61,385 | −13.4% | +2.1% | −15.1% |
| FY 2018 | $70,847 | +37.3% | +2.3% | +34.3% |
| FY 2017 | $51,596 | +29.2% | +1.8% | +26.8% |
| FY 2016 | $39,945 | −6.6% | +0.7% | −7.3% |
| FY 2015 | $42,786 | +5.5% | +0.7% | +4.7% |
| FY 2014 | $40,554 | +14.7% | +1.6% | +12.9% |
| FY 2013 | $35,365 | +23.9% | +1.7% | +21.8% |
| FY 2012 | $28,551 | +39.1% | +2.9% | +35.1% |
| FY 2011 | $20,530 | — | — | — |
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 · State Prog Admin Prin
Paid more than 35% of the 696 people with this job title that year. The median was $94,375.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
19 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Itasca | $38.55 /hr | $9,676 | $88,907 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept L&M Engineering & Development | Mining Aide Full-time | St Louis | $27.49 /hr | $6,721 | $63,792 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept L&M Engineering & Development | Mining Aide Full-time | St Louis | $26.31 /hr | $7,531 | $62,207 |
| 2024 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU MNC Cust Training Fac | Tech College Faculty Part-time · left during year | St Louis | — | — | — |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept L&M Engineering & Development | Mining Aide Full-time | St Louis | $24.94 /hr | $7,417 | $61,908 |
| 2023 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU MNC Cust Training Fac | Tech College Faculty Part-time | St Louis | — | — | — |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept L&M Engineering & Development | Mining Aide Full-time | St Louis | $24.33 /hr | $15,134 | $69,323 |
| 2022 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU MNC Cust Training Fac | Tech College Faculty Part-time | St Louis | — | — | — |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $25.24 /hr | $7,899 | $60,343 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $24.62 /hr | $10,819 | $60,825 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $23.35 /hr | $12,880 | $61,385 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $22.15 /hr | $25,691 | $70,847 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $21.19 /hr | $8,586 | $51,596 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Air Ops Staff | NR Tech Full-time | Itasca | $20.06 /hr | $13,180 | $39,945 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Resp Lead Full-time | St Louis | $17.93 /hr | $11,257 | $42,786 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Resp Lead Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $16.98 /hr | $12,473 | $40,554 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Resp Lead Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $16.01 /hr | $13,114 | $35,365 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Response Lead Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $15.33 /hr | $8,299 | $28,551 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Response Lead Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $14.99 /hr | $3,305 | $20,530 |
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 State Prog Admin Prin
FY 2026, amount paid
- Nierengarten, Gary Joseph$265,277Military Affairs Dept
- Erickson, Brian$129,620Agriculture Dept
- McCanney, James$123,794Transportation Dept
- Johnson, Robert A$118,153Natural Resources Dept
- Yang, Teri L$116,288Mn Management & Budget
- Schaefer, Benjamin J$115,087Natural Resources Dept
- Cullimore, Miriam Eleanor$113,881Office of Higher Education
- Kitto, Danielle N$113,189Public Safety Dept