Kotten, James T.
State Patrol TrooperPublic Safety DeptStearns CountyFull-time
St Cloud D 2600 Troopers. 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 2024, pay went down 23% while consumer prices went up 40%. After inflation, pay is down 45% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024 | $62,235 | −43.3% | +3.3% | −45.1% |
| FY 2023 | $109,707 | −3.9% | +6.3% | −9.5% |
| FY 2022 | $114,141 | +16.8% | +7.2% | +9.0% |
| FY 2021 | $97,726 | +2.0% | +2.3% | −0.3% |
| FY 2020 | $95,832 | −0.8% | +1.6% | −2.3% |
| FY 2019 | $96,557 | — | — | — |
| FY 2017 | $92,485 | −0.6% | +1.8% | −2.3% |
| FY 2016 | $92,998 | −0.3% | +0.7% | −0.9% |
| FY 2015 | $93,236 | +11.8% | +0.7% | +11.0% |
| FY 2014 | $83,380 | +3.1% | +1.6% | +1.6% |
| FY 2013 | $80,841 | −4.4% | +1.7% | −6.0% |
| FY 2012 | $84,566 | +4.7% | +2.9% | +1.7% |
| FY 2011 | $80,757 | — | — | — |
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 2024 · State Patrol Trooper
Paid more than 5% of the 585 people with this job title that year. The median was $108,705.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
13 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time · left during year | Stearns | $49.36 /hr | $1,311 | $62,235 |
| 2023 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $46.78 /hr | $4,075 | $109,707 |
| 2022 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $45.64 /hr | $15,999 | $114,141 |
| 2021 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $40.70 /hr | $17,243 | $97,726 |
| 2020 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $37.55 /hr | $16,602 | $95,832 |
| 2019 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $37.55 /hr | $16,220 | $96,557 |
| 2017 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $35.67 /hr | $17,447 | $92,485 |
| 2016 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $34.80 /hr | $19,846 | $92,998 |
| 2015 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $33.96 /hr | $19,627 | $93,236 |
| 2014 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $31.08 /hr | $16,833 | $83,380 |
| 2013 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $30.47 /hr | $16,488 | $80,841 |
| 2012 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $30.47 /hr | $18,933 | $84,566 |
| 2011 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Troopers | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Stearns | $30.47 /hr | $16,294 | $80,757 |
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 2024, amount paid
- Langer, Matthew$295,234State Patrol Chief
- Lautigar, Michael R$227,682State Patrol Trooper
- Meagher, Sean A$218,604Proj Functional Manager
- Stearns, Jeffery J$200,676State Patrol Trooper
- Wahl, Adiel S$197,110State Patrol Trooper
- Miletich, Dana J$196,727State Patrol Lieutenant
- Krambeer, Adam James$196,613State Patrol Trooper
- Happke, Keith G.$193,628State Patrol Trooper
Highest paid as State Patrol Trooper
FY 2024, amount paid
- Lautigar, Michael R$227,682Public Safety Dept
- Stearns, Jeffery J$200,676Public Safety Dept
- Wahl, Adiel S$197,110Public Safety Dept
- Krambeer, Adam James$196,613Public Safety Dept
- Happke, Keith G.$193,628Public Safety Dept
- Willert, Stephen C$185,039Public Safety Dept
- Baillif, James T$178,203Public Safety Dept
- Zehr, Scott C$170,497Public Safety Dept