Ness, Salena L
Human Resources Specialist 3Veterans Affairs DeptOtter Tail CountyFull-time
Human Resources Outstate. 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 2015 to FY 2026, pay went up 1,607% while consumer prices went up 38%. After inflation, pay is up 1,133% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $92,018 | +4.4% | +3.1% | +1.2% |
| FY 2025 | $88,147 | +11.7% | +2.6% | +8.8% |
| FY 2024 | $78,937 | +15.2% | +3.3% | +11.5% |
| FY 2023 | $68,549 | +10.1% | +6.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2022 | $62,262 | −1.6% | +7.2% | −8.1% |
| FY 2021 | $63,249 | +18.4% | +2.3% | +15.7% |
| FY 2020 | $53,437 | +11.5% | +1.6% | +9.8% |
| FY 2019 | $47,914 | +43.3% | +2.1% | +40.4% |
| FY 2018 | $33,434 | +15.0% | +2.3% | +12.4% |
| FY 2017 | $29,077 | +22.0% | +1.8% | +19.8% |
| FY 2016 | $23,831 | +342.1% | +0.7% | +339.1% |
| FY 2015 | $5,391 | — | — | — |
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 · Human Resources Specialist 3
Paid more than 51% of the 71 people with this job title that year. The median was $91,924.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
12 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 3 Full-time | Otter Tail | $45.08 /hr | — | $92,018 |
| 2025 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 3 Full-time | Otter Tail | $42.92 /hr | $943 | $88,147 |
| 2024 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 3 Full-time | Otter Tail | $39.68 /hr | — | $78,937 |
| 2023 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 2 Full-time | Otter Tail | $31.88 /hr | — | $68,549 |
| 2022 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 2 Full-time | Otter Tail | $30.05 /hr | — | $62,262 |
| 2021 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 2 Full-time | Otter Tail | $28.32 /hr | — | $63,249 |
| 2020 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 2 Full-time | Otter Tail | $26.96 /hr | — | $53,437 |
| 2019 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Specialist 1 Full-time | Otter Tail | $23.81 /hr | $233 | $47,914 |
| 2018 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Outstate | Human Resources Technician 1 Part-time | Otter Tail | $19.99 /hr | — | $33,434 |
| 2017 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources Directors | Human Resources Technician 1 Part-time | Otter Tail | $18.29 /hr | — | $29,077 |
| 2016 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources-Operations | Human Resources Technician 1 Part-time | Otter Tail | $17.24 /hr | — | $23,831 |
| 2015 | Veterans Affairs Dept Human Resources-Operations | Human Resources Technician 1 Part-time | Otter Tail | $16.25 /hr | — | $5,391 |
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 Veterans Affairs Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Ercan-Fang, Sean$306,781Medical Specialist 4
- Saleem, Javaid$243,486Medical Specialist 3
- Nelson, Bryan Allen$239,851Medical Specialist 3
- Hagans, Elnora M$213,140Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Kayes, Shahrior$211,071Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Chalupsky, Paulina$201,138Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Weir, Andrew P$194,254Pharmacist Manager
- Cline, James Michael$187,214Medical Specialist 3
Highest paid as Human Resources Specialist 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- Mortellaro, Rebecca$107,123Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Rivera, Megan Marie$103,204Health Department
- Wollschlager, Lori$99,140Transportation Dept
- Rice, Carolyn Patricia$99,112Human Services Dept
- Hanson, Teresa Kay Vincent$99,108MN St Colleges & Universities
- Anderson Takkunen, Elyse N$98,644Natural Resources Dept
- Camarillo, Cynthia$97,789Natural Resources Dept
- Ludwigson, Tana L$96,974MN St Colleges & Universities