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Ness, Thomas E

Zoo SupervisorMinnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time

Biological Programs Office. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.

Total paid
$982,065
over 13 fiscal years
Latest year
$55,748
FY 2023
Highest year
$86,834
FY 2022
Yearly average
$75,543
across years on record
Change since first year
-10%
FY 2011 to FY 2023 · prices +36%

Pay by fiscal year

Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K2011201320152017201920212023
Paid in yearFY 2011 pay grown with consumer prices (CPI)

From FY 2011 to FY 2023, pay went down 10% while consumer prices went up 36%. After inflation, pay is down 33% (it fell behind inflation).

YearPaidChangePrices (CPI)After inflation
FY 2023$55,748−35.8%+6.3%−39.6%
FY 2022$86,834+0.2%+7.2%−6.5%
FY 2021$86,632+0.7%+2.3%−1.6%
FY 2020$86,027+4.2%+1.6%+2.6%
FY 2019$82,527+1.2%+2.1%−0.9%
FY 2018$81,552+1.5%+2.3%−0.7%
FY 2017$80,309+2.0%+1.8%+0.2%
FY 2016$78,737+5.0%+0.7%+4.3%
FY 2015$75,007+2.3%+0.7%+1.6%
FY 2014$73,314+9.2%+1.6%+7.6%
FY 2013$67,108+0.7%+1.7%−1.0%
FY 2012$66,659+8.2%+2.9%+5.1%
FY 2011$61,611———

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 2023 · Zoo Supervisor

Paid more than 25% of the 8 people with this job title that year. The median was $79,182.

Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.

See everyone with this job title

Every record

13 records, newest first

FYAgencyJob titleCountyBase payOvertimePaid
2023Minnesota Zoological Garden
Biological Programs Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time · left during year
Dakota$42.55 /hr—$55,748
2022Minnesota Zoological Garden
Biological Programs Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$41.51 /hr—$86,834
2021Minnesota Zoological Garden
Biological Programs Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$40.50 /hr—$86,632
2020Minnesota Zoological Garden
Biological Programs Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$39.51 /hr—$86,027
2019Minnesota Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$38.64 /hr—$82,527
2018Minnesota Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$37.79 /hr—$81,552
2017Minnesota Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$37.05 /hr—$80,309
2016Minnesota Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$36.15 /hr—$78,737
2015MN Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$35.27 /hr$317$75,007
2014MN Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$34.24 /hr$363$73,314
2013MN Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$32.06 /hr$469$67,108
2012MN Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$30.28 /hr$390$66,659
2011MN Zoological Garden
Conservation Manager Office
Zoo Supervisor
Full-time
Dakota$29.17 /hr$769$61,611

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 2023, amount paid

Highest paid as Zoo Supervisor

FY 2023, amount paid