Lyden, Thomas Plunkett
Communications Specialist 3Health DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
IPMH- OD Prev.Unit. 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 2023 to FY 2026, pay went up 41% while consumer prices went up 9%. After inflation, pay is up 29% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $81,733 | +5.0% | +3.1% | +1.8% |
| FY 2025 | $77,816 | +11.8% | +2.6% | +8.9% |
| FY 2024 | $69,616 | +19.8% | +3.3% | +16.0% |
| FY 2023 | $58,103 | — | — | — |
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 · Communications Specialist 3
Paid more than 24% of the 161 people with this job title that year. The median was $95,811.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
4 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department IPMH- OD Prev.Unit | Communications Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $39.93 /hr | — | $81,733 |
| 2025 | Health Department IPMH- OD Prev.Unit | Communications Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $37.98 /hr | $409 | $77,816 |
| 2024 | Health Department HPCD IVP SEA Ovrdose Prev Staf | Communications Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $35.13 /hr | — | $69,616 |
| 2023 | Health Department HPCD IVP SEA Ovrdose Prev Staf | Planner Senior State Full-time | Ramsey | $28.96 /hr | — | $58,103 |
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 Communications Specialist 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- DePew, Jeremy$109,668Children Youth & Families Dept
- Torner, Nancy L$108,657Health Department
- Harrison, Karen$106,800Natural Resources Dept
- Coleman, Jenifer M$105,763Natural Resources Dept
- Ernster, Michael$103,445Public Safety Dept
- Sadoff, Lynn Paige$101,931Veterans Affairs Dept
- Pribbernow, Christine N$100,722Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Gonzalez, Victor Carlos$100,626Human Services Dept