O'Connell, Nichole
Jud Court Reporter ElectTrial CourtsStearns CountyFull-time
7th Stearns Judge. 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 2017 to FY 2026, pay went up 66% while consumer prices went up 35%. After inflation, pay is up 23% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $76,718 | +2.9% | +3.1% | −0.2% |
| FY 2025 | $74,539 | +5.6% | +2.6% | +2.9% |
| FY 2024 | $70,587 | +11.0% | +3.3% | +7.4% |
| FY 2023 | $63,600 | +10.1% | +6.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2022 | $57,765 | +2.5% | +7.2% | −4.3% |
| FY 2021 | $56,331 | +3.4% | +2.3% | +1.1% |
| FY 2020 | $54,471 | +2.1% | +1.6% | +0.5% |
| FY 2019 | $53,363 | +6.9% | +2.1% | +4.7% |
| FY 2018 | $49,924 | +8.1% | +2.3% | +5.7% |
| FY 2017 | $46,176 | — | — | — |
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 · Jud Court Reporter Elect
Paid more than 75% of the 118 people with this job title that year. The median was $69,357.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
10 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $36.21 /hr | — | $76,718 |
| 2025 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $35.89 /hr | — | $74,539 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $34.13 /hr | — | $70,587 |
| 2023 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $27.83 /hr | — | $63,600 |
| 2022 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $27.83 /hr | — | $57,765 |
| 2021 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $26.88 /hr | — | $56,331 |
| 2020 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $26.22 /hr | — | $54,471 |
| 2019 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $25.58 /hr | — | $53,363 |
| 2018 | Trial Courts 7th Stearns Judge | Jud Court Reporter Elect Full-time | Stearns | $24.68 /hr | — | $49,924 |
| 2017 | Trial Courts 4th District CMR | Jud Court Reporter Full-time | Hennepin | $23.10 /hr | — | $46,176 |
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 Trial Courts
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lindahl-Pfieffer, Sarah R$217,269Jud District Administrator B
- Gonsalves, Sara Germain$214,079Jud District Administrator C
- Ellefson, Michelle R$210,990Jud District Administrator B
- Kendall, Heather M$210,989Jud District Administrator B
- Gardner, Victoria A$206,980Jud District Court Judge
- Jones, Brian E$206,898Jud District Administrator B
- Austad, Jana Marie$199,622Jud District Court Chief Judge
- Beckman, Stephanie Lynn$199,622Jud District Court Judge
Highest paid as Jud Court Reporter Elect
FY 2026, amount paid
- Torgerson, Cheryl Renae$91,349Trial Courts
- Mellak, Trudi M$90,849Trial Courts
- Boucher, Karen D$90,849Trial Courts
- Monsrud, Lynelle Rae$90,849Trial Courts
- Radzak, Debra JM$90,849Trial Courts
- Welling, Brenda A$90,849Trial Courts
- Fischer, Tracie J$89,323Trial Courts
- Harmsen, Katherine A$89,323Trial Courts