McGowan, Melinda
Parks & Trails AssociateNatural Resources DeptWashington CountyPart-time
PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2. 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 53% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is down 68% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $15,757 | +15.7% | +3.1% | +12.2% |
| FY 2025 | $13,622 | −0.3% | +2.6% | −2.9% |
| FY 2024 | $13,670 | +3.9% | +3.3% | +0.6% |
| FY 2023 | $13,154 | +15.7% | +6.3% | +8.9% |
| FY 2022 | $11,364 | +22.8% | +7.2% | +14.6% |
| FY 2021 | $9,257 | −12.3% | +2.3% | −14.2% |
| FY 2020 | $10,550 | −24.0% | +1.6% | −25.2% |
| FY 2019 | $13,879 | −67.4% | +2.1% | −68.1% |
| FY 2018 | $42,601 | +29.1% | +2.3% | +26.2% |
| FY 2017 | $33,009 | +14.8% | +1.8% | +12.7% |
| FY 2016 | $28,765 | −0.1% | +0.7% | −0.8% |
| FY 2015 | $28,801 | −12.0% | +0.7% | −12.6% |
| FY 2014 | $32,730 | −3.3% | +1.6% | −4.8% |
| FY 2013 | $33,857 | −2.5% | +1.7% | −4.1% |
| FY 2012 | $34,723 | +3.7% | +2.9% | +0.8% |
| FY 2011 | $33,480 | — | — | — |
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 · Parks & Trails Associate
Paid more than 52% of the 197 people with this job title that year. The median was $14,735.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
17 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2 | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Washington | $26.16 /hr | — | $15,757 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2 | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Washington | $25.77 /hr | $309 | $13,622 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2 | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Washington | $24.66 /hr | $296 | $13,670 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2 | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Washington | $23.37 /hr | $280 | $13,154 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2 | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Washington | $22.80 /hr | $547 | $11,364 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R3 Afton Staff 2 | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Washington | $22.24 /hr | $300 | $9,257 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Banning Staff | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Pine | $21.70 /hr | $342 | $10,550 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Banning Staff | Parks & Trails Associate Part-time | Pine | $21.22 /hr | $64 | $13,879 |
| 2018 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 4 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $25.69 /hr | $308 | $42,601 |
| 2017 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $25.19 /hr | — | $33,009 |
| 2016 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $24.58 /hr | — | $28,765 |
| 2016 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $24.58 /hr | — | — |
| 2015 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $23.98 /hr | — | $28,801 |
| 2014 | Human Services Dept LS Background Studies GroupIII | State Prog Admin Full-time | Ramsey | $24.08 /hr | — | $32,730 |
| 2013 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $21.95 /hr | $565 | $33,857 |
| 2012 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $20.92 /hr | — | $34,723 |
| 2011 | Revenue Dept Tax Ops-Early Audit 2 | Revenue Examiner 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $20.31 /hr | $266 | $33,480 |
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 Natural Resources Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Smith, Rodmen E$205,052NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$198,561Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$197,945Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Asst Commr NR Operations
- Richards, Jess W$185,409Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
Highest paid as Parks & Trails Associate
FY 2026, amount paid
- Schumacher, Kevin D$51,288Natural Resources Dept
- Parks, Stacy L$49,772Natural Resources Dept
- Stub, Phillip R$49,663Natural Resources Dept
- Dahl, Corey R$48,288Natural Resources Dept
- Lust, Jennifer M$46,908Natural Resources Dept
- Deschampe, Daniel Paul$46,253Natural Resources Dept
- McGarry, Eugene A$44,769Natural Resources Dept
- Nims, Elizabeth Ann$44,282Natural Resources Dept