Payne, Kael D
Transp Communications OperatorTransportation DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Dispatch. 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 369% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 216% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $76,245 | −1.6% | +3.1% | −4.6% |
| FY 2025 | $77,519 | −0.0% | +2.6% | −2.6% |
| FY 2024 | $77,529 | −1.2% | +3.3% | −4.3% |
| FY 2023 | $78,437 | +8.3% | +6.3% | +1.9% |
| FY 2022 | $72,454 | +1.1% | +7.2% | −5.7% |
| FY 2021 | $71,666 | −8.7% | +2.3% | −10.8% |
| FY 2020 | $78,535 | −14.9% | +1.6% | −16.2% |
| FY 2019 | $92,329 | −15.8% | +2.1% | −17.5% |
| FY 2018 | $109,612 | +10.2% | +2.3% | +7.7% |
| FY 2017 | $99,497 | +53.0% | +1.8% | +50.2% |
| FY 2016 | $65,050 | +33.8% | +0.7% | +32.9% |
| FY 2015 | $48,616 | −34.1% | +0.7% | −34.5% |
| FY 2014 | $73,725 | −14.8% | +1.6% | −16.1% |
| FY 2013 | $86,520 | +76.5% | +1.7% | +73.6% |
| FY 2012 | $49,015 | +201.5% | +2.9% | +192.9% |
| FY 2011 | $16,259 | — | — | — |
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 · Transp Communications Operator
Paid more than 22% of the 9 people with this job title that year. The median was $80,303.
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 | Transportation Dept Dispatch | Transp Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $35.28 /hr | $1,114 | $76,245 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept Dispatch | Transp Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $34.79 /hr | $794 | $77,519 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept Freeway System Operations | Transp Prog Specialist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $36.34 /hr | $1,059 | $77,529 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept Freeway System Operations | Transp Prog Specialist 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $34.45 /hr | $7,893 | $78,437 |
| 2022 | Transportation Dept Freeway System Operations | Transp Prog Specialist 1 Full-time | Ramsey | $30.24 /hr | $3,910 | $72,454 |
| 2021 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 3 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $30.61 /hr | $6,553 | $71,666 |
| 2020 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 3 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $29.05 /hr | $16,014 | $78,535 |
| 2019 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 3 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $27.66 /hr | $32,344 | $92,329 |
| 2018 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 7 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $26.36 /hr | $51,709 | $109,612 |
| 2017 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 7 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $25.14 /hr | $45,558 | $99,497 |
| 2016 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 7 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $23.84 /hr | $14,103 | $65,050 |
| 2015 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 2 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $22.67 /hr | $945 | $48,616 |
| 2014 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 5 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $21.58 /hr | $19,481 | $73,725 |
| 2013 | Public Safety Dept Reg Trans Mgmt Center Team 1 | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Ramsey | $21.01 /hr | $38,446 | $86,520 |
| 2012 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Radio | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Stearns | $18.09 /hr | $7,505 | $49,015 |
| 2011 | Public Safety Dept St Cloud D 2600 Radio | Radio Communications Operator Full-time | Stearns | $17.60 /hr | $1,762 | $16,259 |
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 Transportation Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Fairbanks, Michael Joseph$207,651Engineer Administrative
- Wallace, Jean Marie$201,630Deputy Commr Transportation
- Daubenberger, Nancy Therese$197,945Commissioner-Transportation
- Severs, Sara V$196,965Deputy Commr Transportation
- Erickson, Daniel E$192,340Engineer Princ Admin Transp
- Beer, Michael G$188,409Transp Division Engineer
- Van Dyck, Karin L$188,262Transp Chief Admin Officer
- Solberg, Jon P$187,477Transp Asst Div Dir
Highest paid as Transp Communications Operator
FY 2026, amount paid
- Huss, Joseph R$97,635Transportation Dept
- Patnode, Arthur Earl$90,576Transportation Dept
- Herzog, Beth A$88,458Transportation Dept
- Ford, Brent L$86,081Transportation Dept
- Sippel, Sarah$80,303Transportation Dept
- Luxford, Jeffrey A$78,236Transportation Dept
- Brekken, Michael James$75,303Transportation Dept
- Jacobson, Timothy M$75,288Transportation Dept