Kunkel, Michael Wallace
Jud Appellate Courts AttorneyCourt of AppealsRamsey CountyFull-time
Court of Appeals. 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 128% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 54% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $136,356 | +3.1% | +3.1% | −0.0% |
| FY 2025 | $132,226 | +7.0% | +2.6% | +4.3% |
| FY 2024 | $123,525 | −0.4% | +3.3% | −3.6% |
| FY 2023 | $123,999 | +10.1% | +6.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2022 | $112,636 | +2.8% | +7.2% | −4.0% |
| FY 2021 | $109,516 | +3.4% | +2.3% | +1.1% |
| FY 2020 | $105,873 | +4.2% | +1.6% | +2.6% |
| FY 2019 | $101,570 | +18.6% | +2.1% | +16.2% |
| FY 2018 | $85,661 | +14.6% | +2.3% | +12.1% |
| FY 2017 | $74,747 | +5.6% | +1.8% | +3.7% |
| FY 2016 | $70,780 | +4.6% | +0.7% | +3.9% |
| FY 2015 | $67,637 | +4.4% | +0.7% | +3.6% |
| FY 2014 | $64,789 | −1.5% | +1.6% | −3.0% |
| FY 2013 | $65,749 | +5.7% | +1.7% | +4.0% |
| FY 2012 | $62,208 | +3.8% | +2.9% | +0.9% |
| FY 2011 | $59,904 | — | — | — |
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 Appellate Courts Attorney
Paid more than 33% of the 12 people with this job title that year. The median was $147,113.
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 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $64.18 /hr | — | $136,356 |
| 2025 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $63.45 /hr | — | $132,226 |
| 2024 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $59.55 /hr | — | $123,525 |
| 2023 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $54.26 /hr | — | $123,999 |
| 2022 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $54.26 /hr | — | $112,636 |
| 2021 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $52.50 /hr | — | $109,516 |
| 2020 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $50.97 /hr | — | $105,873 |
| 2019 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Appellate Courts Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $49.58 /hr | — | $101,570 |
| 2018 | Court of Appeals Court of Appeals | Jud Attorney III Full-time | Ramsey | $47.90 /hr | — | $85,661 |
| 2017 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 3 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $36.38 /hr | — | $74,747 |
| 2016 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 3 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $34.50 /hr | — | $70,780 |
| 2015 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 3 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $32.69 /hr | — | $67,637 |
| 2014 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 3 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $31.35 /hr | — | $64,789 |
| 2013 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 3 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $29.92 /hr | — | $65,749 |
| 2012 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 2 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $28.80 /hr | — | $62,208 |
| 2011 | Public Defense Board Appellate Office 2 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $28.80 /hr | — | $59,904 |
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 Court of Appeals
FY 2026, amount paid
- Frisch, Jennifer L$212,650Jud Court of Appeals Chief Jdg
- Bentley, Elizabeth Graber$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
- Bond, Rachel$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
- Bratvold, Diane$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
- Cochran, Jeanne$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
- Connolly, Francis J$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
- Ede, Keala Christian$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
- Harris, JaPaul J$202,528Jud Court of Appeals Judge
Highest paid as Jud Appellate Courts Attorney
FY 2026, amount paid
- Christenson, Scott Robert Leck$169,190Supreme Court
- Doely, Peter Haldor Kleven$166,929Court of Appeals
- Crone, Kari Thoe$164,880Court of Appeals
- Carlson, Jodie L$164,880Court of Appeals
- Vokes, Sarah J$157,025Supreme Court
- Keating, Matthew T$154,688Court of Appeals
- Lovejoy, Daniel N$139,537Supreme Court
- LaPlante, Kathryn Lynn$133,066Supreme Court