Kessler, Donia Dawn
Jud ParalegalTrial CourtsClay CountyFull-time
7th Clay Referee. 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 2020 to FY 2026, pay went up 256% while consumer prices went up 27%. After inflation, pay is up 179% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $82,810 | +4.1% | +3.1% | +0.9% |
| FY 2025 | $79,569 | +6.7% | +2.6% | +3.9% |
| FY 2024 | $74,589 | +0.0% | +3.3% | −3.2% |
| FY 2023 | $74,572 | +10.2% | +6.3% | +3.7% |
| FY 2022 | $67,673 | +5.9% | +7.2% | −1.2% |
| FY 2021 | $63,884 | +174.3% | +2.3% | +168.1% |
| FY 2020 | $23,293 | — | — | — |
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 · Jud Paralegal
Paid more than 73% of the 11 people with this job title that year. The median was $80,489.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
7 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Referee | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $38.96 /hr | — | $82,810 |
| 2025 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Referee | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $38.48 /hr | — | $79,569 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Judge | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $35.95 /hr | $27 | $74,589 |
| 2023 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Referee | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $32.61 /hr | $49 | $74,572 |
| 2022 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Referee | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $32.61 /hr | — | $67,673 |
| 2021 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Referee | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $31.39 /hr | — | $63,884 |
| 2020 | Trial Courts 7th Clay Referee | Jud Paralegal Full-time | Clay | $30.33 /hr | — | $23,293 |
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 Trial Courts
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lindahl-Pfieffer, Sarah R$217,269Jud District Administrator B
- Gonsalves, Sara Germain$214,079Jud District Administrator C
- Ellefson, Michelle R$210,990Jud District Administrator B
- Kendall, Heather M$210,989Jud District Administrator B
- Gardner, Victoria A$206,980Jud District Court Judge
- Jones, Brian E$206,898Jud District Administrator B
- Austad, Jana Marie$199,622Jud District Court Chief Judge
- Beckman, Stephanie Lynn$199,622Jud District Court Judge
Highest paid as Jud Paralegal
FY 2026, amount paid
- Staum, Julie Ann$85,724Supreme Court
- Benedict, Dana Marie$83,395Supreme Court
- Dreier, Sofia Alexandra$82,074Supreme Court
- Brovege, Gina Marie$81,754Supreme Court
- LaRue, Patricia K$80,489Supreme Court
- Gehrke, Christina A$76,339Supreme Court
- Burud Swenson, Sydnee Nicole$76,280Supreme Court
- Holtgren, Jennifer Marie$76,081Supreme Court