Nelson, Dustin Z
NR Forest Fire Resp LeadNatural Resources DeptSt Louis CountyFull-time
FOR R2 Orr Staff. 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 62% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 9% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $39,918 | −18.9% | +3.1% | −21.4% |
| FY 2025 | $49,219 | −17.3% | +2.6% | −19.4% |
| FY 2024 | $59,486 | −6.6% | +3.3% | −9.6% |
| FY 2023 | $63,688 | −8.0% | +6.3% | −13.4% |
| FY 2022 | $69,202 | +9.7% | +7.2% | +2.4% |
| FY 2021 | $63,074 | +1.7% | +2.3% | −0.6% |
| FY 2020 | $62,023 | +5.6% | +1.6% | +3.9% |
| FY 2019 | $58,748 | −2.6% | +2.1% | −4.6% |
| FY 2018 | $60,318 | −5.7% | +2.3% | −7.8% |
| FY 2017 | $63,994 | −1.1% | +1.8% | −2.9% |
| FY 2016 | $64,682 | +26.7% | +0.7% | +25.9% |
| FY 2015 | $51,039 | +9.6% | +0.7% | +8.8% |
| FY 2014 | $46,580 | +40.2% | +1.6% | +38.1% |
| FY 2013 | $33,221 | +4.7% | +1.7% | +3.0% |
| FY 2012 | $31,729 | +28.9% | +2.9% | +25.2% |
| FY 2011 | $24,615 | — | — | — |
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 · NR Forest Fire Resp Lead
Paid more than 40% of the 52 people with this job title that year. The median was $41,174.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
21 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Orr Staff | NR Forest Fire Resp Lead Full-time | St Louis | $26.16 /hr | $5,627 | $39,918 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Orr Staff | NR Forest Fire Resp Lead Full-time | St Louis | $25.05 /hr | $5,717 | $49,219 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Orr Staff | NR Forest Fire Resp Lead Full-time | St Louis | $23.97 /hr | $2,057 | $59,486 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $26.52 /hr | $4,212 | $63,688 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $25.87 /hr | $15,422 | $69,202 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $25.24 /hr | $10,649 | $63,074 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $24.62 /hr | $8,648 | $62,023 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $24.08 /hr | $8,524 | $58,748 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $23.55 /hr | $12,323 | $60,318 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $22.39 /hr | $16,403 | $63,994 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $21.19 /hr | $24,268 | $64,682 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time | St Louis | $20.17 /hr | $14,977 | $51,039 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Scenic Staff | Buildings & Grounds Worker Part-time · left during year | Itasca | $18.36 /hr | — | — |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Scenic Staff | Buildings & Grounds Worker Part-time | Itasca | $17.83 /hr | $13,636 | $46,580 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $19.00 /hr | — | — |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Scenic Staff | Buildings & Grounds Worker Part-time | Itasca | $16.90 /hr | $8,238 | $33,221 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept FOR Protection Helicopter Ops | NR Tech Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $17.95 /hr | — | — |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Scenic Staff | Buildings & Grounds Worker Part-time | Itasca | $16.17 /hr | $7,112 | $31,729 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Response Lead Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $15.70 /hr | — | — |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept PAT-R2 Scenic Staff | Buildings & Grounds Worker Part-time | Itasca | $15.70 /hr | $2,675 | $24,615 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept FOR R2 Hibbing Asst Staff | NR Forest Fire Response Lead Full-time · left during year | St Louis | $15.70 /hr | — | — |
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 NR Forest Fire Resp Lead
FY 2026, amount paid
- Trierweiler, Michael Lee$84,077Natural Resources Dept
- Kuiken, Tyler F$74,719Natural Resources Dept
- Ring, Meghan$70,383Natural Resources Dept
- Hodges, Brian M$63,285Natural Resources Dept
- Benoy, Roscoe R$62,987Natural Resources Dept
- Violette, Michael Keith$60,532Natural Resources Dept
- Olds, Daniel Mark$60,232Natural Resources Dept
- Head, Jonathon A$58,695Natural Resources Dept