Olson Jr, Dennis W
Commissioner-MN Off Higher EduOffice of Higher EducationRamsey CountyFull-time
Agency Operations. 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 2013 to FY 2026, pay went up 198% while consumer prices went up 42%. After inflation, pay is up 110% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $185,181 | +3.8% | +3.1% | +0.6% |
| FY 2025 | $178,451 | +0.5% | +2.6% | −2.1% |
| FY 2024 | $177,534 | +15.7% | +3.3% | +12.0% |
| FY 2023 | $153,462 | +3.8% | +6.3% | −2.4% |
| FY 2022 | $147,907 | +5.8% | +7.2% | −1.2% |
| FY 2021 | $139,746 | −3.8% | +2.3% | −6.0% |
| FY 2020 | $145,339 | +18.9% | +1.6% | +17.1% |
| FY 2019 | $122,243 | +22.6% | +2.1% | +20.1% |
| FY 2018 | $99,738 | +2.0% | +2.3% | −0.3% |
| FY 2017 | $97,787 | +2.5% | +1.8% | +0.7% |
| FY 2016 | $95,368 | +2.4% | +0.7% | +1.8% |
| FY 2015 | $93,096 | +3.0% | +0.7% | +2.2% |
| FY 2014 | $90,403 | +45.3% | +1.6% | +43.0% |
| FY 2013 | $62,231 | — | — | — |
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 · Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu
Too few people share this job title that year to make a fair comparison.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
15 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Office of Higher Education Agency Operations | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $87.05 /hr | — | $185,181 |
| 2025 | Office of Higher Education Agency Operations | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $83.78 /hr | — | $178,451 |
| 2024 | Office of Higher Education Agency Operations | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $83.78 /hr | — | $177,534 |
| 2023 | Office of Higher Education Agency Operations | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $153,462 |
| 2022 | Office of Higher Education MN Office of Higher Education | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $147,907 |
| 2021 | Office of Higher Education MN Office of Higher Education | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $139,746 |
| 2020 | Office of Higher Education MN Office of Higher Education | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $62.50 /hr | — | $145,339 |
| 2019 | Office of Higher Education MN Office of Higher Education | Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $122,243 |
| 2019 | Indian Affairs Council Indian Affairs Council | Exec Dir Indian Affairs Bd Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $47.93 /hr | — | — |
| 2018 | Indian Affairs Council Indian Affairs Council | Exec Dir Indian Affairs Bd Full-time | Ramsey | $46.87 /hr | — | $99,738 |
| 2017 | Indian Affairs Council Indian Affairs Council | Exec Dir Indian Affairs Bd Full-time | Ramsey | $45.96 /hr | — | $97,787 |
| 2016 | Education Department Commissioner of Education | Asst To Commr Full-time | Hennepin | $44.84 /hr | — | $95,368 |
| 2015 | Education Department Commissioner of Education | Asst To Commr Full-time | Hennepin | $43.75 /hr | — | $93,096 |
| 2014 | Education Department Deputy Commissioner | Asst To Commr Full-time | Hennepin | $42.48 /hr | — | $90,403 |
| 2013 | Education Department Deputy Commissioner | Asst To Commr Full-time | Hennepin | $41.24 /hr | — | $62,231 |
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 Office of Higher Education
FY 2026, amount paid
- Wold, Andrew D$170,464General Counsel 2
- Sullivan, Winnie$162,864OHE Senior Executive
- Sanford, Thomas W$155,783OHE Executive
- Robinson, Wendy Sue$151,949OHE Executive
- Hovis, Keith R.$151,413OHE Executive
- Yang, Poawit$140,117OHE Director
- Morris, Nora E$139,230OHE Director
- Milton, Patrick Wayne$136,669OHE Director
Highest paid as Commissioner-MN Off Higher Edu
FY 2026, amount paid
No one else with a pay figure that year.