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Kaelke, Denise E

Hydrologist 2Natural Resources DeptPope CountyFull-time

ECO Waters Water&AqPlantPermit. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.

Total paid
$514,780
over 6 fiscal years
Latest year
$92,471
FY 2026
Highest year
$92,471
FY 2026
Yearly average
$85,797
across years on record
Change since first year
+19%
FY 2021 to FY 2026 · prices +25%

Pay by fiscal year

Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.

$0$50K$100K$150K$77,5272021$80,5202022$85,7072023$87,5312024$91,0252025$92,4712026
Paid in yearFY 2021 pay grown with consumer prices (CPI)

From FY 2021 to FY 2026, pay went up 19% while consumer prices went up 25%. After inflation, pay is down 4% (it fell behind inflation).

YearPaidChangePrices (CPI)After inflation
FY 2026$92,471+1.6%+3.1%−1.5%
FY 2025$91,025+4.0%+2.6%+1.3%
FY 2024$87,531+2.1%+3.3%−1.1%
FY 2023$85,707+6.4%+6.3%+0.2%
FY 2022$80,520+3.9%+7.2%−3.1%
FY 2021$77,527———

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 · Hydrologist 2

Paid more than 74% of the 69 people with this job title that year. The median was $85,892.

Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.

See everyone with this job title

Every record

6 records, newest first

FYAgencyJob titleCountyBase payOvertimePaid
2026Natural Resources Dept
ECO Waters Water&AqPlantPermit
Hydrologist 2
Full-time
Pope$44.48 /hr—$92,471
2025Natural Resources Dept
ECO Waters Water&AqPlantPermit
Hydrologist 2
Full-time
Pope$43.82 /hr—$91,025
2024Natural Resources Dept
ECO Waters Water&AqPlantPermit
Hydrologist 2
Full-time
Ramsey$41.93 /hr—$87,531
2023Natural Resources Dept
ECO Waters R1 Southern Staff
Hydrologist 2
Full-time
Otter Tail$39.74 /hr—$85,707
2022Natural Resources Dept
ECO Waters R1 Southern Staff
Hydrologist 2
Full-time
Otter Tail$38.77 /hr—$80,520
2021Natural Resources Dept
ECO Waters R1 Southern Staff
Hydrologist 2
Full-time
Otter Tail$37.82 /hr—$77,527

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

Highest paid as Hydrologist 2

FY 2026, amount paid