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Peterson, Daniel J

ZoologistMN Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time

Aquariums. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.

Different people with the same name: Minnesota Zoological Garden, FY 2026 · Corrections Dept, FY 2026 · MN St Colleges & Universities, FY 2014

Total paid
$316,085
over 5 fiscal years
Latest year
$67,186
FY 2015 · $874 overtime
Highest year
$67,186
FY 2015
Yearly average
$63,217
across years on record
Change since first year
+16%
FY 2011 to FY 2015 · prices +7%

Pay by fiscal year

Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K$58,0442011$60,1392012$65,6792013$65,0372014$67,1862015
Paid in yearFY 2011 pay grown with consumer prices (CPI)

From FY 2011 to FY 2015, pay went up 16% while consumer prices went up 7%. After inflation, pay is up 8% (it beat inflation).

YearPaidChangePrices (CPI)After inflation
FY 2015$67,186+3.3%+0.7%+2.6%
FY 2014$65,037−1.0%+1.6%−2.5%
FY 2013$65,679+9.2%+1.7%+7.4%
FY 2012$60,139+3.6%+2.9%+0.7%
FY 2011$58,044———

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 2015 · Zoologist

Paid more than 75% of the 8 people with this job title that year. The median was $63,744.

Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.

See everyone with this job title

Every record

5 records, newest first

FYAgencyJob titleCountyBase payOvertimePaid
2015MN Zoological Garden
Aquariums
Zoologist
Full-time
Dakota$30.68 /hr$874$67,186
2014MN Zoological Garden
Aquariums
Zoologist
Full-time
Dakota$29.79 /hr$1,450$65,037
2013MN Zoological Garden
Aquariums
Zoologist
Full-time
Dakota$27.88 /hr$5,631$65,679
2012MN Zoological Garden
Aquariums
Zoologist
Full-time
Dakota$26.39 /hr$2,221$60,139
2011MN Zoological Garden
Aquariums
Zoologist
Full-time
Dakota$25.51 /hr$3,536$58,044

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 MN Zoological Garden

FY 2015, amount paid

Highest paid as Zoologist

FY 2015, amount paid