Nelson, Michael Dennis
Land Surveyor PrincipalTransportation DeptWashington CountyFull-time
Location Surveys E&W. 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 2017 to FY 2026, pay went up 139% while consumer prices went up 35%. After inflation, pay is up 77% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $134,359 | +0.7% | +3.1% | −2.3% |
| FY 2025 | $133,394 | +5.8% | +2.6% | +3.1% |
| FY 2024 | $126,087 | +3.4% | +3.3% | +0.1% |
| FY 2023 | $121,948 | +9.8% | +6.3% | +3.4% |
| FY 2022 | $111,014 | +14.0% | +7.2% | +6.3% |
| FY 2021 | $97,421 | +4.2% | +2.3% | +1.9% |
| FY 2020 | $93,457 | +2.4% | +1.6% | +0.8% |
| FY 2019 | $91,261 | +1.9% | +2.1% | −0.1% |
| FY 2018 | $89,537 | +59.0% | +2.3% | +55.5% |
| FY 2017 | $56,318 | — | — | — |
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 · Land Surveyor Principal
Paid more than 95% of the 22 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
10 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Principal Full-time | Washington | $63.10 /hr | $1,578 | $134,359 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Principal Full-time | Hennepin | $62.17 /hr | $4,252 | $133,394 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Principal Full-time | Hennepin | $59.49 /hr | $2,558 | $126,087 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Principal Full-time | Hennepin | $56.39 /hr | $81 | $121,948 |
| 2022 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Principal Full-time | Hennepin | $51.61 /hr | $3,226 | $111,014 |
| 2021 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Senior Full-time | Hennepin | $46.21 /hr | $2 | $97,421 |
| 2020 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Senior Full-time | Hennepin | $45.08 /hr | $314 | $93,457 |
| 2019 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Senior Full-time | Hennepin | $43.84 /hr | $175 | $91,261 |
| 2018 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Senior Full-time | Hennepin | $42.88 /hr | $740 | $89,537 |
| 2017 | Transportation Dept Location Surveys E&W | Land Surveyor Senior Full-time | Hennepin | $39.11 /hr | — | $56,318 |
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 Land Surveyor Principal
FY 2026, amount paid
- Sutherland, Kevin M$133,707Transportation Dept
- Streitz, David D$132,783Transportation Dept
- Aguilar, Jose Luis$132,781Transportation Dept
- Roro, Fufa Tolessa$131,307Transportation Dept
- Metz, Kevin J$131,183Transportation Dept
- Bongard, Jason Allan$131,183Transportation Dept
- DeLeeuw, Joshua J$131,183Transportation Dept
- Kojic, Svjetlana A$131,183Transportation Dept