Nelson, Blake Earl
Engineer PrincTransportation DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
MRR Foundations Design-Build. 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 55% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 4% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $131,181 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $129,142 | +4.5% | +2.6% | +1.8% |
| FY 2024 | $123,541 | +0.6% | +3.3% | −2.6% |
| FY 2023 | $122,790 | +13.3% | +6.3% | +6.6% |
| FY 2022 | $108,349 | +0.2% | +7.2% | −6.5% |
| FY 2021 | $108,153 | +3.4% | +2.3% | +1.1% |
| FY 2020 | $104,612 | +2.3% | +1.6% | +0.7% |
| FY 2019 | $102,305 | +2.2% | +2.1% | +0.2% |
| FY 2018 | $100,075 | −7.0% | +2.3% | −9.1% |
| FY 2017 | $107,644 | +7.9% | +1.8% | +5.9% |
| FY 2016 | $99,786 | +8.9% | +0.7% | +8.2% |
| FY 2015 | $91,596 | +3.0% | +0.7% | +2.2% |
| FY 2014 | $88,944 | +3.6% | +1.6% | +2.0% |
| FY 2013 | $85,876 | +2.9% | +1.7% | +1.2% |
| FY 2012 | $83,436 | −1.5% | +2.9% | −4.3% |
| FY 2011 | $84,739 | — | — | — |
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 · Engineer Princ
Paid more than 33% of the 240 people with this job title that year. The median was $131,181.
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 | Transportation Dept MRR Foundations Design-Build | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $63.10 /hr | — | $131,181 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $62.17 /hr | — | $129,142 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $59.49 /hr | — | $123,541 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $56.39 /hr | — | $122,790 |
| 2022 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $51.61 /hr | — | $108,349 |
| 2021 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $51.61 /hr | — | $108,153 |
| 2020 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $50.35 /hr | — | $104,612 |
| 2019 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $49.24 /hr | — | $102,305 |
| 2018 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $48.16 /hr | — | $100,075 |
| 2017 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $47.22 /hr | $6,497 | $107,644 |
| 2016 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $44.08 /hr | $8,100 | $99,786 |
| 2015 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $44.08 /hr | — | $91,596 |
| 2014 | Transportation Dept Materials & Road Research | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $42.80 /hr | — | $88,944 |
| 2013 | Transportation Dept (I)Geotechnical Engineering | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $41.55 /hr | $204 | $85,876 |
| 2012 | Transportation Dept Geotechnical Engineering | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $40.74 /hr | — | $83,436 |
| 2011 | Transportation Dept Geotechnical Engineering | Engineer Princ Full-time | Ramsey | $40.74 /hr | — | $84,739 |
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 Transportation Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Fairbanks, Michael Joseph$207,651Engineer Administrative
- Wallace, Jean Marie$201,630Deputy Commr Transportation
- Daubenberger, Nancy Therese$197,945Commissioner-Transportation
- Severs, Sara V$196,965Deputy Commr Transportation
- Erickson, Daniel E$192,340Engineer Princ Admin Transp
- Beer, Michael G$188,409Transp Division Engineer
- Van Dyck, Karin L$188,262Transp Chief Admin Officer
- Solberg, Jon P$187,477Transp Asst Div Dir
Highest paid as Engineer Princ
FY 2026, amount paid
- Swanson, Tim Richard$154,404Transportation Dept
- Kern, Gregory A$151,863Transportation Dept
- Henningsgaard, Bruce P$147,263Pollution Control Agency
- Williams, Robert J$145,712Transportation Dept
- Ferrall, Zachary David$142,401Transportation Dept
- Brewer, Rashmi Shirole$139,991Transportation Dept
- Ollrich, Nicklaus A$139,921Transportation Dept
- Kowski, Michael P$138,776Transportation Dept