Kwong, Justin A
Staff Attorney 3Health DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
GCO Agencywide Legal Svcs. 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 2012 to FY 2026, pay went up 3,518% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is up 2,412% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $141,409 | +7.1% | +3.1% | +3.8% |
| FY 2025 | $132,051 | +7.3% | +2.6% | +4.6% |
| FY 2024 | $123,039 | +7.4% | +3.3% | +4.0% |
| FY 2023 | $114,539 | +20.5% | +6.3% | +13.4% |
| FY 2022 | $95,068 | −2.5% | +7.2% | −9.1% |
| FY 2021 | $97,536 | +14.4% | +2.3% | +11.8% |
| FY 2020 | $85,264 | +12.6% | +1.6% | +10.9% |
| FY 2019 | $75,732 | +9.2% | +2.1% | +7.0% |
| FY 2018 | $69,360 | +5.1% | +2.3% | +2.8% |
| FY 2017 | $65,994 | +6.1% | +1.8% | +4.1% |
| FY 2016 | $62,229 | +5.5% | +0.7% | +4.8% |
| FY 2015 | $58,957 | +10.6% | +0.7% | +9.8% |
| FY 2014 | $53,308 | +2.8% | +1.6% | +1.2% |
| FY 2013 | $51,846 | +1,226.4% | +1.7% | +1,204.7% |
| FY 2012 | $3,909 | — | — | — |
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 · Staff Attorney 3
Paid more than 98% of the 81 people with this job title that year. The median was $126,356.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
15 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department GCO Agencywide Legal Svcs | Staff Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $63.69 /hr | — | $141,409 |
| 2025 | Employ & Econ Development Dept Deputy General Counsel Staff | Staff Attorney Supervisor Full-time | Ramsey | $67.01 /hr | — | $132,051 |
| 2024 | Health Department GCO Agencywide Legal Svcs | Staff Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $60.05 /hr | — | $123,039 |
| 2023 | Health Department GCO Agencywide Legal Svcs | Staff Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $54.94 /hr | — | $114,539 |
| 2022 | Health Department Legal Affairs | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $46.49 /hr | $464 | $95,068 |
| 2021 | Health Department Legal Affairs | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $43.77 /hr | $8,131 | $97,536 |
| 2020 | Health Department Legal Affairs | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $41.21 /hr | $1,545 | $85,264 |
| 2019 | Health Department Legal Affairs | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $38.75 /hr | — | $75,732 |
| 2018 | Revenue Dept Appeals & Legal Disclosure | Attorney 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $33.82 /hr | — | $69,360 |
| 2017 | Revenue Dept Appeals & Legal Disclosure | Attorney 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $32.35 /hr | — | $65,994 |
| 2016 | Revenue Dept Legal Services 2 | Attorney 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $30.50 /hr | — | $62,229 |
| 2015 | Revenue Dept Legal Services 2 | Attorney 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $28.75 /hr | — | $58,957 |
| 2014 | Employ & Econ Development Dept UI Legal Affairs | Comp Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $27.23 /hr | — | $53,308 |
| 2013 | Employ & Econ Development Dept UI Legal Affairs | Comp Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $25.67 /hr | — | $51,846 |
| 2012 | Employ & Econ Development Dept UI Legal Affairs | Comp Attorney Full-time | Ramsey | $24.43 /hr | — | $3,909 |
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 Health Department
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lynfield, Ruth$319,013Medical Specialist 4
- Lehnertz, Nicholas$273,587Medical Specialist 2
- Stadheim, Ruth$229,052State Prog Admin Coordinator
- Cunningham, Brooke$189,360Commissioner-Health
- Benson, Robin Christopher$188,266General Counsel 3
- Underwood, Wendy Lynne$187,354Deputy Commr Health
- Smith, Kirk E$185,409Epidemiologist Program Manager
- Desai, Jay$185,344Epidemiologist Program Manager
Highest paid as Staff Attorney 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- Petroski, Andrew S$144,122Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Ellis, Derek R$137,149Human Services Dept
- Bethke, Lauren C$136,356Secretary of State
- Hilding, Derek A$136,347Natural Resources Dept
- Ziezulewicz, Paul$135,099Human Services Dept
- Steenhoek, Sarah W$133,408Human Services Dept
- Slator, Kevin T$133,408Human Services Dept
- Boehmke, Julie$133,408Transportation Dept