Palmquist, Benjamin D
Environmental Specialist 3Pollution Control AgencyRamsey CountyFull-time
Tanks Compliance Unit. 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 142% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 63% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $93,363 | +5.6% | +3.1% | +2.4% |
| FY 2025 | $88,384 | +7.6% | +2.6% | +4.9% |
| FY 2024 | $82,118 | +2.9% | +3.3% | −0.4% |
| FY 2023 | $79,835 | +6.4% | +6.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2022 | $75,013 | +5.4% | +7.2% | −1.6% |
| FY 2021 | $71,164 | +6.2% | +2.3% | +3.8% |
| FY 2020 | $67,017 | +5.8% | +1.6% | +4.2% |
| FY 2019 | $63,348 | +4.2% | +2.1% | +2.1% |
| FY 2018 | $60,803 | +7.4% | +2.3% | +5.0% |
| FY 2017 | $56,629 | +6.2% | +1.8% | +4.3% |
| FY 2016 | $53,334 | +6.0% | +0.7% | +5.3% |
| FY 2015 | $50,318 | +3.4% | +0.7% | +2.6% |
| FY 2014 | $48,683 | +10.8% | +1.6% | +9.1% |
| FY 2013 | $43,918 | +9.4% | +1.7% | +7.6% |
| FY 2012 | $40,134 | +4.1% | +2.9% | +1.2% |
| FY 2011 | $38,541 | — | — | — |
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 · Environmental Specialist 3
Paid more than 80% of the 96 people with this job title that year. The median was $80,419.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
16 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pollution Control Agency Tanks Compliance Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $46.15 /hr | — | $93,363 |
| 2025 | Pollution Control Agency Tanks Compliance Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $43.82 /hr | — | $88,384 |
| 2024 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $39.06 /hr | — | $82,118 |
| 2023 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $37.02 /hr | — | $79,835 |
| 2022 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $36.12 /hr | — | $75,013 |
| 2021 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $35.24 /hr | — | $71,164 |
| 2020 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $33.14 /hr | — | $67,017 |
| 2019 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $31.29 /hr | — | $63,348 |
| 2018 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $29.58 /hr | — | $60,803 |
| 2017 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $27.98 /hr | — | $56,629 |
| 2016 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $26.33 /hr | — | $53,334 |
| 2015 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $24.80 /hr | — | $50,318 |
| 2014 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $23.30 /hr | $1,506 | $48,683 |
| 2013 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit 2 | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $21.83 /hr | $65 | $43,918 |
| 2012 | Pollution Control Agency IND LAC Tank Compliance Unit | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $20.70 /hr | — | $40,134 |
| 2011 | Pollution Control Agency IND CE Tanks Complnce&Enf Unit | Pollution Cont Spec Inter Full-time | Ramsey | $18.72 /hr | — | $38,541 |
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 Pollution Control Agency
FY 2026, amount paid
- Benke, David J$206,695Pollution Cont Division Dir
- Kessler, Katrina$187,081Commissioner-Pollution Control
- Tester, Peter Lund$185,681Deputy Commr Pollution Control
- Kohlasch, Frank L$179,172Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Koudelka, Kirk G$179,172Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Vanderbosch, Dana A$174,964Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Fredrickson, Leslie$163,659General Counsel 2
- Cords, Wayne C$161,075Pollution Cont Division Dir
Highest paid as Environmental Specialist 3
FY 2026, amount paid
- Onsrud, Aaron C$98,393Pollution Control Agency
- Giorgi, Arianna Nicole$96,784Health Department
- Dingmann, Anthony J$96,706Pollution Control Agency
- Pommier, Nathan$95,943Pollution Control Agency
- Gegen, Jon Paul$95,411Pollution Control Agency
- Waldo, Nancy L$95,100Pollution Control Agency
- Bodovinitz, David$95,070Pollution Control Agency
- Koschak, Michael James$94,980Pollution Control Agency