Knutsen, Dwayne Neil
Jud Dist Court Senior JudgeTrial CourtsRamsey CountyIntermittent
Retired Judges. 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 down 71% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is down 80% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $34,874 | +8.2% | +3.1% | +4.9% |
| FY 2025 | $32,242 | −5.7% | +2.6% | −8.1% |
| FY 2024 | $34,184 | −37.3% | +3.3% | −39.3% |
| FY 2023 | $54,498 | −7.1% | +6.3% | −12.6% |
| FY 2022 | $58,684 | −66.2% | +7.2% | −68.4% |
| FY 2021 | $173,391 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2020 | $169,162 | +2.5% | +1.6% | +0.9% |
| FY 2019 | $165,036 | +7.6% | +2.1% | +5.4% |
| FY 2018 | $153,345 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2017 | $149,605 | +4.0% | +1.8% | +2.1% |
| FY 2016 | $143,851 | +4.0% | +0.7% | +3.3% |
| FY 2015 | $138,318 | +3.0% | +0.7% | +2.3% |
| FY 2014 | $134,289 | +4.0% | +1.6% | +2.4% |
| FY 2013 | $129,124 | +0.0% | +1.7% | −1.6% |
| FY 2012 | $129,124 | +8.8% | +2.9% | +5.7% |
| FY 2011 | $118,733 | — | — | — |
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 Dist Court Senior Judge
Paid more than 92% of the 90 people with this job title that year. The median was $11,515.
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 | Trial Courts Retired Judges | Jud Dist Court Senior Judge Intermittent | Ramsey | $82.25 /hr | — | $34,874 |
| 2025 | Trial Courts Retired Judges | Jud Dist Court Senior Judge Intermittent | Ramsey | $82.25 /hr | — | $32,242 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts Retired Judges | Jud Dist Court Senior Judge Intermittent | Ramsey | $79.13 /hr | — | $34,184 |
| 2023 | Trial Courts Retired Judges | Jud Dist Court Senior Judge Intermittent | Ramsey | $73.25 /hr | — | $54,498 |
| 2022 | Trial Courts Retired Judges | Jud Dist Court Senior Judge Intermittent | Ramsey | $73.25 /hr | — | $58,684 |
| 2021 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Chief Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $6,836 /2 wk | — | $173,391 |
| 2020 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Chief Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $6,669 /2 wk | — | $169,162 |
| 2019 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Chief Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $6,506 /2 wk | — | $165,036 |
| 2018 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Chief Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $6,348 /2 wk | — | $153,345 |
| 2017 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud Assistant Chief Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $5,898 /2 wk | — | $149,605 |
| 2016 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud Assistant Chief Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $5,754 /2 wk | — | $143,851 |
| 2015 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $5,533 /2 wk | — | $138,318 |
| 2014 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $5,320 /2 wk | — | $134,289 |
| 2013 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $5,165 /2 wk | — | $129,124 |
| 2012 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $4,966 /2 wk | — | $129,124 |
| 2011 | Trial Courts Trial Court Judges | Jud District Court Judge Full-time | Yellow Medicine | $4,782 /2 wk | — | $118,733 |
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 Dist Court Senior Judge
FY 2026, amount paid
- Brosnahan, Amy R$55,995Trial Courts
- Hylden, Eric Lloyd$54,890Trial Courts
- Martin, Krista$52,634Trial Courts
- Dixon, Donna K$51,906Trial Courts
- Walker, Bradley C$39,809Trial Courts
- Larson, Gary$38,164Trial Courts
- Van Hon, Thomas William$32,571Trial Courts
- Yunker, Mary$31,913Trial Courts