Norlien, Kathleen Giesen
Environmental Res ScientistHealth DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
HPCD IVP SEA 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 2011 to FY 2025, pay went down 4% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is down 33% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $70,730 | −29.8% | +2.6% | −31.6% |
| FY 2024 | $100,739 | −0.9% | +3.3% | −4.1% |
| FY 2023 | $101,664 | +9.1% | +6.3% | +2.7% |
| FY 2022 | $93,169 | +2.5% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $90,908 | +2.2% | +2.3% | −0.1% |
| FY 2020 | $88,932 | +2.5% | +1.6% | +0.9% |
| FY 2019 | $86,765 | +2.2% | +2.1% | +0.2% |
| FY 2018 | $84,864 | +2.0% | +2.3% | −0.2% |
| FY 2017 | $83,189 | +2.5% | +1.8% | +0.6% |
| FY 2016 | $81,169 | +2.5% | +0.7% | +1.8% |
| FY 2015 | $79,189 | +3.0% | +0.7% | +2.2% |
| FY 2014 | $76,891 | +4.0% | +1.6% | +2.4% |
| FY 2013 | $73,930 | +2.5% | +1.7% | +0.8% |
| FY 2012 | $72,131 | −1.9% | +2.9% | −4.7% |
| FY 2011 | $73,558 | — | — | — |
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 2025 · Environmental Res Scientist
Paid more than 9% of the 22 people with this job title that year. The median was $101,203.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
15 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Health Department HPCD IVP SEA Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $50.69 /hr | — | $70,730 |
| 2024 | Health Department HPCD IVP SEA Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $48.51 /hr | — | $100,739 |
| 2023 | Health Department HPCD IVP SEA Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $45.98 /hr | — | $101,664 |
| 2022 | Health Department SEA Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $44.86 /hr | — | $93,169 |
| 2021 | Health Department SEA Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $43.77 /hr | — | $90,908 |
| 2020 | Health Department CHP-IVP SEA Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $42.70 /hr | $214 | $88,932 |
| 2019 | Health Department CHP-Asthma Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $41.76 /hr | — | $86,765 |
| 2018 | Health Department CHP-Asthma Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $40.84 /hr | — | $84,864 |
| 2017 | Health Department CHP-Asthma Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $40.04 /hr | — | $83,189 |
| 2016 | Health Department CHP-Asthma Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $39.06 /hr | — | $81,169 |
| 2015 | Health Department CHP-Asthma Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $38.11 /hr | — | $79,189 |
| 2014 | Health Department CHP-Asthma Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $37.00 /hr | — | $76,891 |
| 2013 | Health Department CDEE Assistant Director Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $35.92 /hr | — | $73,930 |
| 2012 | Health Department CDEE Assistant Director Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $35.22 /hr | — | $72,131 |
| 2011 | Health Department CDEE Assistant Director Staff | Environmental Res Scientist Full-time | Ramsey | $35.22 /hr | — | $73,558 |
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 Health Department
FY 2025, amount paid
- Lynfield, Ruth$314,038Medical Specialist 4
- Lehnertz, Nicholas$262,107Medical Specialist 2
- Witkowski, James J$191,918Public Health Sanitarian Supv
- Underwood, Wendy Lynne$185,504Deputy Commr Health
- Cunningham, Brooke$180,294Commissioner-Health
- Benson, Robin Christopher$178,920General Counsel 3
- Desai, Jay$178,228Epidemiologist Program Manager
- Smith, Kirk E$178,228Epidemiologist Program Manager
Highest paid as Environmental Res Scientist
FY 2025, amount paid
- Sandberg, John JG$108,819Pollution Control Agency
- Feist, Michael D$107,328Pollution Control Agency
- Chirhart, Joel W$106,296Pollution Control Agency
- Anderson, Jesse P$105,300Pollution Control Agency
- Kovacevic, Azra$105,300Pollution Control Agency
- Brown, David L$105,296Pollution Control Agency
- Bourdaghs, Michael R$105,296Pollution Control Agency
- Schneider, James D$105,296Pollution Control Agency