Ness, Christine I
Interpret Naturalist 2Minnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Outreach. 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 116% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 46% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $80,796 | +12.2% | +3.1% | +8.8% |
| FY 2025 | $72,016 | +5.7% | +2.6% | +3.0% |
| FY 2024 | $68,150 | +2.0% | +3.3% | −1.2% |
| FY 2023 | $66,795 | +20.0% | +6.3% | +13.0% |
| FY 2022 | $55,642 | +192.5% | +7.2% | +172.9% |
| FY 2021 | $19,022 | −67.2% | +2.3% | −67.9% |
| FY 2020 | $57,914 | −1.7% | +1.6% | −3.2% |
| FY 2019 | $58,917 | +6.9% | +2.1% | +4.7% |
| FY 2018 | $55,128 | +2.9% | +2.3% | +0.6% |
| FY 2017 | $53,595 | +6.9% | +1.8% | +5.0% |
| FY 2016 | $50,144 | +8.2% | +0.7% | +7.4% |
| FY 2015 | $46,361 | +7.5% | +0.7% | +6.7% |
| FY 2014 | $43,134 | +7.6% | +1.6% | +5.9% |
| FY 2013 | $40,103 | +0.7% | +1.7% | −0.9% |
| FY 2012 | $39,815 | +6.4% | +2.9% | +3.4% |
| FY 2011 | $37,404 | — | — | — |
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 · Interpret Naturalist 2
Paid more than 97% of the 29 people with this job title that year. The median was $66,167.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
18 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach | Interpret Naturalist 2 Full-time | Dakota | $37.26 /hr | — | $80,796 |
| 2025 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $34.18 /hr | $1,000 | $72,016 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $32.71 /hr | $245 | $68,150 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden General Education | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $31.00 /hr | — | $66,795 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden General Education | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $30.24 /hr | — | $55,642 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Biological Programs Office | Zoo Keeper Intermittent · left during year | Dakota | $21.28 /hr | — | — |
| 2021 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Biological Programs Office | Zoo Keeper Intermittent | Dakota | $21.28 /hr | — | $19,022 |
| 2021 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $29.50 /hr | — | — |
| 2020 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $28.78 /hr | $127 | $57,914 |
| 2019 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $28.15 /hr | $421 | $58,917 |
| 2018 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $26.58 /hr | $150 | $55,128 |
| 2017 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $25.22 /hr | $58 | $53,595 |
| 2016 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $23.73 /hr | $36 | $50,144 |
| 2015 | MN Zoological Garden Outreach Program Area | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $22.39 /hr | $50 | $46,361 |
| 2014 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $21.03 /hr | — | $43,134 |
| 2013 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $19.72 /hr | — | $40,103 |
| 2012 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $18.72 /hr | — | $39,815 |
| 2011 | MN Zoological Garden Zoomobile | Interpret Naturalist 1 Full-time | Dakota | $18.10 /hr | $115 | $37,404 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2026, amount paid
- Frawley, John$421,176Dir Zoological Gardens
- Mosher, Abigail E$163,030Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$161,019Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Garity, Susan C$149,247Veterinarian
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$146,607Human Resources Director 3
- Tillery, Otha$146,607Plant Mgmt Dir
- Kochevar, Randall$144,059Zoo Animal Programs Director
- Hoye, Pamela Ann$134,577State Prog Admin Manager Sr
Highest paid as Interpret Naturalist 2
FY 2026, amount paid
- Eckhoff, Benjamin Nicholas$79,014Natural Resources Dept
- Wendt, Andrew James$77,883Natural Resources Dept
- Geisler, Brian N$77,867Natural Resources Dept
- Fallon, Erin Marie$77,639Natural Resources Dept
- Darst, Jeremy A$77,502Natural Resources Dept
- Lichter, Sandra D$77,501Natural Resources Dept
- Thao, Kao$77,461Natural Resources Dept
- Mester, Amy Victoria$77,457Natural Resources Dept