Kessler, James Thomas
DVS Exam & Insp Spec SrPublic Safety DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
DVS DEALERS & INSPECTION #3. 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 2017 to FY 2026, pay went up 86% while consumer prices went up 35%. After inflation, pay is up 38% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $66,320 | +4.4% | +3.1% | +1.2% |
| FY 2025 | $63,544 | +8.3% | +2.6% | +5.6% |
| FY 2024 | $58,649 | +6.7% | +3.3% | +3.3% |
| FY 2023 | $54,963 | +9.5% | +6.3% | +3.1% |
| FY 2022 | $50,175 | −10.3% | +7.2% | −16.3% |
| FY 2021 | $55,947 | +21.8% | +2.3% | +19.0% |
| FY 2020 | $45,948 | −46.2% | +1.6% | −47.1% |
| FY 2019 | $85,478 | +114.6% | +2.1% | +110.3% |
| FY 2018 | $39,822 | +11.6% | +2.3% | +9.1% |
| FY 2017 | $35,688 | — | — | — |
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 · DVS Exam & Insp Spec Sr
Paid more than 60% of the 20 people with this job title that year. The median was $62,855.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
11 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Public Safety Dept DVS DEALERS & INSPECTION #3 | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $32.37 /hr | $139 | $66,320 |
| 2025 | Public Safety Dept DVS DEALERS & INSPECTION #3 | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $30.98 /hr | $209 | $63,544 |
| 2024 | Public Safety Dept DVS DEALERS & INSPECTION #3 | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $28.83 /hr | $404 | $58,649 |
| 2023 | Public Safety Dept DVS Exam Region 8B | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Full-time | Isanti | $25.72 /hr | $115 | $54,963 |
| 2022 | Public Safety Dept DVS Exam Region 8B | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Full-time | Isanti | $24.33 /hr | $107 | $50,175 |
| 2021 | Public Safety Dept DVS Exam Region 8B | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Full-time | Isanti | $23.17 /hr | $8,379 | $55,947 |
| 2020 | Public Safety Dept DVS Exam Region 8B | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Full-time | Stearns | $21.92 /hr | $736 | $45,948 |
| 2020 | Veterans Affairs Dept Mpls Scheduling Staff | Resident Assistant Part-time · left during year | Hennepin | $21.92 /hr | — | — |
| 2019 | Public Safety Dept DVS Exam Region 8B | DVS Exam & Insp Spec Full-time | Stearns | $20.87 /hr | $14 | $85,478 |
| 2018 | MN St Colleges & Universities MnSCU St Cloud TC Classified | General Maintenance Wrkr Full-time | Stearns | $18.12 /hr | $1,832 | $39,822 |
| 2017 | Human Services Dept MSOCS FC Cross Lake | Human Svcs Technician Part-time | Pine | $17.30 /hr | $4,917 | $35,688 |
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 Public Safety Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Krambeer, Adam James$246,089State Patrol Trooper
- Barthel, Eric J$241,240State Patrol Captain
- Stricker, Paul G.$227,992State Patrol Trooper
- Engeldinger, Jason H$220,634State Patrol Captain
- Farmakes, John D$219,560State Patrol Lieutenant
- Yang, Dau Mong$207,791State Patrol Trooper
- Evans, Andrew W$206,747Superintendent BCA
- Erickson, Thomas Michael$205,456State Patrol Trooper
Highest paid as DVS Exam & Insp Spec Sr
FY 2026, amount paid
- Brewin, Shannon A.$73,549Public Safety Dept
- Nava, Lawrence J$73,116Public Safety Dept
- Ehrenberg, Dean D$72,150Public Safety Dept
- Brunsvold, Douglas Arnold$72,072Public Safety Dept
- Leisenheimer, William P$71,331Public Safety Dept
- Schweitzer, Jon Edward$71,030Public Safety Dept
- Berdan, Scott L$68,751Public Safety Dept
- Pack, Michael R$66,308Public Safety Dept