Pennington, Sarah
NR Spec Int Eco SvcsNatural Resources DeptCrow Wing CountyFull-time
F&W AMA Habitat Staff. 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 2014 to FY 2026, pay went up 2,010% while consumer prices went up 39%. After inflation, pay is up 1,413% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $79,525 | +5.1% | +3.1% | +1.9% |
| FY 2025 | $75,645 | +7.3% | +2.6% | +4.5% |
| FY 2024 | $70,509 | +6.4% | +3.3% | +3.0% |
| FY 2023 | $66,254 | +10.2% | +6.3% | +3.7% |
| FY 2022 | $60,101 | +6.0% | +7.2% | −1.1% |
| FY 2021 | $56,704 | +6.0% | +2.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2020 | $53,489 | +5.7% | +1.6% | +4.1% |
| FY 2019 | $50,592 | +5.7% | +2.1% | +3.5% |
| FY 2018 | $47,870 | +5.6% | +2.3% | +3.3% |
| FY 2017 | $45,331 | +22.9% | +1.8% | +20.7% |
| FY 2016 | $36,889 | −7.7% | +0.7% | −8.3% |
| FY 2015 | $39,962 | +960.1% | +0.7% | +952.5% |
| FY 2014 | $3,770 | — | — | — |
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 · NR Spec Int Eco Svcs
Paid more than 81% of the 21 people with this job title that year. The median was $67,668.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
14 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept F&W AMA Habitat Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $38.55 /hr | — | $79,525 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $36.71 /hr | — | $75,645 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $33.90 /hr | $678 | $70,509 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $31.00 /hr | — | $66,254 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $29.19 /hr | — | $60,101 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $27.56 /hr | — | $56,704 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $25.94 /hr | — | $53,489 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $24.53 /hr | — | $50,592 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $23.22 /hr | — | $47,870 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $21.98 /hr | — | $45,331 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $20.76 /hr | — | $36,889 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Spec Int Eco Svcs Full-time | Crow Wing | $19.58 /hr | $275 | $39,962 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time · left during year | Crow Wing | $17.49 /hr | — | — |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept Fish-R2 Brainerd FieldOp Staff | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time | Crow Wing | $16.98 /hr | — | $3,770 |
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 Natural Resources Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Smith, Rodmen E$205,052NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$198,561Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$197,945Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Asst Commr NR Operations
- Richards, Jess W$185,409Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
Highest paid as NR Spec Int Eco Svcs
FY 2026, amount paid
- Knopik, Joshua M$80,143Natural Resources Dept
- Stucker, Steven P$80,143Natural Resources Dept
- Anderson, Ryan T$80,138Natural Resources Dept
- Secrist, Zebulin Arthur$78,256Natural Resources Dept
- Gillen Ashling, Jennifer Marie$77,146Natural Resources Dept
- Juenemann, Jamie L$74,681Natural Resources Dept
- Swenson, Hannah Marie$73,243Natural Resources Dept
- Dawald, Christopher Ray$71,442Natural Resources Dept