Kestner, Nathan A
State Prog Admin Manager SrNatural Resources DeptBeltrami CountyFull-time
EcoWaters Region 1. 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 146% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 66% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $134,821 | +2.2% | +3.1% | −0.9% |
| FY 2025 | $131,897 | +7.1% | +2.6% | +4.3% |
| FY 2024 | $123,173 | +5.2% | +3.3% | +1.8% |
| FY 2023 | $117,115 | +10.2% | +6.3% | +3.7% |
| FY 2022 | $106,276 | +5.5% | +7.2% | −1.6% |
| FY 2021 | $100,770 | +5.6% | +2.3% | +3.3% |
| FY 2020 | $95,399 | +5.7% | +1.6% | +4.1% |
| FY 2019 | $90,264 | +6.0% | +2.1% | +3.8% |
| FY 2018 | $85,192 | +5.5% | +2.3% | +3.2% |
| FY 2017 | $80,726 | +6.9% | +1.8% | +4.9% |
| FY 2016 | $75,549 | +14.3% | +0.7% | +13.6% |
| FY 2015 | $66,072 | +2.4% | +0.7% | +1.6% |
| FY 2014 | $64,552 | +8.5% | +1.6% | +6.8% |
| FY 2013 | $59,515 | +6.2% | +1.7% | +4.5% |
| FY 2012 | $56,027 | +2.1% | +2.9% | −0.8% |
| FY 2011 | $54,891 | — | — | — |
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 Manager Sr
Paid more than 83% of the 267 people with this job title that year. The median was $131,700.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
16 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $63.35 /hr | — | $134,821 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $62.41 /hr | — | $131,897 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $59.01 /hr | — | $123,173 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $54.04 /hr | — | $117,115 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $50.94 /hr | — | $106,276 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $48.02 /hr | — | $100,770 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $45.71 /hr | — | $95,399 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $43.19 /hr | — | $90,264 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $40.81 /hr | — | $85,192 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $38.66 /hr | — | $80,726 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters Region 1 | State Prog Admin Manager Sr Full-time | Beltrami | $36.44 /hr | — | $75,549 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters R1 RM Staff | NR Spec Sr Eco Svcs Full-time | Beltrami | $31.80 /hr | — | $66,072 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept EcoWaters R1 RM Staff | NR Spec Sr Eco Svcs Full-time | Beltrami | $30.87 /hr | — | $64,552 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters R1 ARM Staff | NR Spec Sr Eco Svcs Full-time | Beltrami | $29.97 /hr | — | $59,515 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters R1 ARM Staff | NR Spec Sr Eco Svcs Full-time | Beltrami | $28.35 /hr | — | $56,027 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept ECO Waters R1 ARM Staff | NR Spec Sr Eco Svcs Full-time | Beltrami | $27.33 /hr | — | $54,891 |
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 Manager Sr
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649Natural Resources Dept
- Leach, Megan$160,270Nursing Board
- Koch-Myer, Noreen S$149,195Direct Care and Treatment
- Johnson, Sondra M$144,768Direct Care and Treatment
- Hill, Kortney A$142,620Education Department
- Graham, Joy E$141,409Transportation Dept
- Muellner, Mary E$140,649Mn Management & Budget
- Nordstrom, Lee Lenore$137,821Transportation Dept