Nelson, Thor Steven
Laborer Trades & EquipmentNatural Resources DeptChippewa CountyFull-time
WL-R4 LQP 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 2019 to FY 2026, pay went up 164% while consumer prices went up 29%. After inflation, pay is up 104% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $46,937 | +5.8% | +3.1% | +2.6% |
| FY 2025 | $44,381 | +7.6% | +2.6% | +4.8% |
| FY 2024 | $41,257 | +20.3% | +3.3% | +16.5% |
| FY 2023 | $34,284 | +16.7% | +6.3% | +9.8% |
| FY 2022 | $29,372 | +7.8% | +7.2% | +0.5% |
| FY 2021 | $27,260 | +5.2% | +2.3% | +2.9% |
| FY 2020 | $25,906 | +45.7% | +1.6% | +43.4% |
| FY 2019 | $17,782 | — | — | — |
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 · Laborer Trades & Equipment
Paid more than 30% of the 106 people with this job title that year. The median was $53,208.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
8 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Chippewa | $29.93 /hr | — | $46,937 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Chippewa | $28.71 /hr | $388 | $44,381 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Chippewa | $25.87 /hr | — | $41,257 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer Trades & Equipment Full-time | Chippewa | $23.19 /hr | — | $34,284 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer General Full-time | Chippewa | $18.37 /hr | — | $29,372 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer General Full-time | Chippewa | $17.54 /hr | — | $27,260 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer General Full-time | Chippewa | $16.74 /hr | — | $25,906 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 LQP Staff | Laborer General Full-time | Chippewa | $16.02 /hr | — | $17,782 |
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 Laborer Trades & Equipment
FY 2026, amount paid
- Rothe, Jared D$73,753Corrections Dept
- Bellefeuille, Justin R$73,514Natural Resources Dept
- Hoover, Alexander$71,731Natural Resources Dept
- Gerace Jr, Nicolas J$71,647Natural Resources Dept
- Engesser, Jared Bernhardt$70,420Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Payne, Andrew S$69,683Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Bernfeld, Jessie Lynn$69,321Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Thompson, Joseph R$67,826Corrections Dept