Menk, Jason John
Laborer GeneralMinnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Indoor Animals. 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 2021 to FY 2023, pay went up 27% while consumer prices went up 14%. After inflation, pay is up 11% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2023 | $5,519 | −33.9% | +6.3% | −37.8% |
| FY 2022 | $8,349 | +91.6% | +7.2% | +78.7% |
| FY 2021 | $4,358 | — | — | — |
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 2023 · Laborer General
Paid more than 48% of the 162 people with this job title that year. The median was $5,975.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
3 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Indoor Animals | Laborer General Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $18.03 /hr | — | $5,519 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Indoor Animals | Laborer General Full-time | Dakota | $17.59 /hr | — | $8,349 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Res Madelia Staff | NR Tech Full-time · left during year | Watonwan | $18.16 /hr | — | $4,358 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2023, amount paid
- Frawley, John$332,014Dir Zoological Gardens
- Cowen, Amy Ritter$167,571Zoo Deputy Director
- Mosher, Abigail E$151,745Admin Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$141,574Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Rivas, Anne Elizabeth$122,798Zoo Conservation Manager
- Madole, Jessica Marie$121,866State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Tillery, Otha$121,377Plant Mgmt Dir
- Strecker, Carol E$114,776Zoo Education Director
Highest paid as Laborer General
FY 2023, amount paid
- Nelson, Thomas Jackson$49,630Natural Resources Dept
- Coad, Emily$47,028Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Norenberg, Joshua Earl$46,619Natural Resources Dept
- Pilz, James D$46,277Corrections Dept
- Nelson, Anna Rae Sutton$45,281Natural Resources Dept
- King, Kraig A$43,872Natural Resources Dept
- Magnuson, Mark L$43,226Natural Resources Dept
- Dutchin, Alex$41,674Minnesota Zoological Garden