Nelson, Cole Michael
Engineering SpecialistTransportation DeptLake Of Woods CountyFull-time
TRF Field Construction. 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 2018 to FY 2026, pay went up 7,581% while consumer prices went up 32%. After inflation, pay is up 5,717% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $98,858 | +1.1% | +3.1% | −2.0% |
| FY 2025 | $97,773 | +9.3% | +2.6% | +6.5% |
| FY 2024 | $89,458 | +9.5% | +3.3% | +6.0% |
| FY 2023 | $81,684 | +21.4% | +6.3% | +14.2% |
| FY 2022 | $67,287 | +3.2% | +7.2% | −3.7% |
| FY 2021 | $65,180 | +10.0% | +2.3% | +7.6% |
| FY 2020 | $59,233 | +23.1% | +1.6% | +21.2% |
| FY 2019 | $48,110 | +3,638.1% | +2.1% | +3,562.2% |
| FY 2018 | $1,287 | — | — | — |
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 · Engineering Specialist
Paid more than 80% of the 262 people with this job title that year. The median was $97,024.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
9 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Transportation Dept TRF Field Construction | Engineering Specialist Full-time | Lake Of Woods | $46.67 /hr | — | $98,858 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept TRF Field Construction | Engineering Specialist Full-time | Lake Of Woods | $45.98 /hr | $3,066 | $97,773 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept TRF Field Construction | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Pennington | $42.21 /hr | — | $89,458 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept TRF Field Construction | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Pennington | $38.50 /hr | $13 | $81,684 |
| 2022 | Transportation Dept TRF Field Construction | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Pennington | $33.91 /hr | $533 | $67,287 |
| 2021 | Transportation Dept Program Del Exempt | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Beltrami | $31.35 /hr | $3,471 | $65,180 |
| 2020 | Transportation Dept Program Del Exempt | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Beltrami | $28.34 /hr | $9,474 | $59,233 |
| 2019 | Transportation Dept East Operations Mgr | Trainee-Graduate Engineer Full-time | Beltrami | $22.81 /hr | $2,281 | $48,110 |
| 2018 | Transportation Dept Program Manager | Trainee-Graduate Engineer Full-time | Beltrami | $21.45 /hr | — | $1,287 |
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 Engineering Specialist
FY 2026, amount paid
- Winter, William B$154,016Transportation Dept
- Borders, Andrew C$153,692Transportation Dept
- Odegard, Thomas R$152,809Transportation Dept
- Drysdale, Cody Michael$151,679Transportation Dept
- Mahnke, Brett$148,357Transportation Dept
- Johnson, Scott M$146,784Transportation Dept
- Mehlhorn, Mark J$142,137Transportation Dept
- Anderson, Michael W$135,895Transportation Dept