Olson, Joel C
Jud RefereeTrial CourtsHennepin CountyFull-time
4th Hennepin 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 2011 to FY 2026, pay went up 334% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 193% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $175,352 | +3.0% | +3.1% | −0.1% |
| FY 2025 | $170,234 | +18.4% | +2.6% | +15.4% |
| FY 2024 | $143,779 | +5.0% | +3.3% | +1.6% |
| FY 2023 | $136,988 | +10.3% | +6.3% | +3.8% |
| FY 2022 | $124,239 | +2.5% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $121,265 | +7.2% | +2.3% | +4.8% |
| FY 2020 | $113,094 | +2.8% | +1.6% | +1.3% |
| FY 2019 | $109,967 | +3.6% | +2.1% | +1.5% |
| FY 2018 | $106,187 | +3.9% | +2.3% | +1.6% |
| FY 2017 | $102,162 | +3.0% | +1.8% | +1.2% |
| FY 2016 | $99,161 | +1.1% | +0.7% | +0.4% |
| FY 2015 | $98,075 | +6.9% | +0.7% | +6.1% |
| FY 2014 | $91,768 | +1.5% | +1.6% | −0.1% |
| FY 2013 | $90,433 | −0.1% | +1.7% | −1.7% |
| FY 2012 | $90,517 | +123.9% | +2.9% | +117.5% |
| FY 2011 | $40,433 | — | — | — |
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 Referee
Paid more than 82% of the 22 people with this job title that year. The median was $170,435.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
30 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trial Courts 4th Hennepin Judge | Jud Referee Full-time | Hennepin | $81.94 /hr | — | $175,352 |
| 2025 | Trial Courts 4th Hennepin Judge | Jud Referee Full-time | Hennepin | $81.94 /hr | — | $170,234 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts 4th Hennepin Judge | Jud Referee Full-time | Hennepin | $78.79 /hr | — | $143,779 |
| 2024 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time · left during year | Ramsey | $78.79 /hr | — | — |
| 2023 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Court Operations Manager Part-time | Ramsey | $51.70 /hr | — | $136,988 |
| 2023 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $72.95 /hr | — | — |
| 2022 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Court Operations Manager Part-time | Ramsey | $51.70 /hr | — | $124,239 |
| 2022 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $72.95 /hr | — | — |
| 2021 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Court Operations Manager Part-time | Ramsey | $50.19 /hr | — | $121,265 |
| 2021 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $71.17 /hr | — | — |
| 2020 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Court Operations Manager Part-time | Ramsey | $50.04 /hr | — | $113,094 |
| 2020 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $69.43 /hr | — | — |
| 2019 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Court Operations Manager Part-time | Ramsey | $48.35 /hr | — | $109,967 |
| 2019 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $67.74 /hr | — | — |
| 2018 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $46.60 /hr | — | $106,187 |
| 2018 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $66.09 /hr | — | — |
| 2017 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $45.02 /hr | — | $102,162 |
| 2017 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $64.48 /hr | — | — |
| 2016 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $43.18 /hr | — | $99,161 |
| 2016 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $62.00 /hr | — | — |
| 2015 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $41.52 /hr | — | $98,075 |
| 2015 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $59.62 /hr | — | — |
| 2014 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $39.14 /hr | — | $91,768 |
| 2014 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $57.88 /hr | — | — |
| 2013 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $38.00 /hr | — | $90,433 |
| 2013 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $55.65 /hr | — | — |
| 2012 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $38.00 /hr | — | $90,517 |
| 2012 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $55.65 /hr | — | — |
| 2011 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Attorney II Part-time | Ramsey | $38.00 /hr | — | $40,433 |
| 2011 | Trial Courts 2nd District Civil | Jud Referee Part-time | Ramsey | $55.65 /hr | — | — |
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 Referee
FY 2026, amount paid
- Nguyen, Ngoc$175,352Trial Courts
- Ogunleye, Joshua Jack$175,352Trial Courts
- Stebbins, Richard A$175,352Trial Courts
- Garfinkel, Naomi Shira$173,713Trial Courts
- Mercurio, Danielle C$170,435Trial Courts
- Chaffee, Rebecca Ann$170,435Trial Courts
- Clysdale, Elizabeth A$170,435Trial Courts
- Davies, Heidi Margaret Fisher$170,435Trial Courts