Petersen, Thomas E.
Commissioner-AgricultureAgriculture DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Commissioner. 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 2019 to FY 2026, pay went up 192% while consumer prices went up 29%. After inflation, pay is up 126% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $180,829 | +3.8% | +3.1% | +0.6% |
| FY 2025 | $174,262 | +0.5% | +2.6% | −2.1% |
| FY 2024 | $173,345 | +15.6% | +3.3% | +11.9% |
| FY 2023 | $149,990 | +3.8% | +6.3% | −2.3% |
| FY 2022 | $144,435 | +6.0% | +7.2% | −1.1% |
| FY 2021 | $136,274 | −4.2% | +2.3% | −6.3% |
| FY 2020 | $142,214 | +129.6% | +1.6% | +126.1% |
| FY 2019 | $61,940 | — | — | — |
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-Agriculture
Too few people share this job title that year to make a fair comparison.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
8 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $87.05 /hr | — | $180,829 |
| 2025 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $83.78 /hr | — | $174,262 |
| 2024 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $83.78 /hr | — | $173,345 |
| 2023 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $149,990 |
| 2022 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $144,435 |
| 2021 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $136,274 |
| 2020 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $62.50 /hr | — | $142,214 |
| 2019 | Agriculture Dept Commissioner | Commissioner-Agriculture Full-time | Ramsey | $69.44 /hr | — | $61,940 |
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 Agriculture Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Vaubel, Andrea Fetherston$181,054Deputy Commr Agriculture
- Bailey, Patrice$167,153Asst Commr Agriculture
- Kjeseth, Peder Leif$166,417Asst Commr Agriculture
- Sis, Julie A$161,019Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Spanier, Douglas P$151,827General Counsel 1
- Hugunin, Paul S$150,081State Prog Admin Manager Prin
- Peck, Justin$149,071Management Analyst 3
- Neeser, Nicole Lynn$147,607State Prog Admin Manager Prin
Highest paid as Commissioner-Agriculture
FY 2026, amount paid
No one else with a pay figure that year.