Pherson, Sarah
Public Defense Asst AttorneyPublic Defense BoardBeltrami CountyFull-time
9th District Asst Public Def. 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 2016 to FY 2018, pay went up 58% while consumer prices went up 4%. After inflation, pay is up 52% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2018 | $52,069 | +1.6% | +2.3% | −0.6% |
| FY 2017 | $51,234 | +55.6% | +1.8% | +52.7% |
| FY 2016 | $32,936 | — | — | — |
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 2018 · Public Defense Asst Attorney
Paid more than 26% of the 515 people with this job title that year. The median was $62,371.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
3 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Public Defense Board 9th District Asst Public Def | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time · left during year | Beltrami | $28.92 /hr | $87 | $52,069 |
| 2017 | Public Defense Board 9th District Asst Public Def | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Beltrami | $26.40 /hr | — | $51,234 |
| 2016 | Trial Courts 4th Hennepin Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Hennepin | $23.26 /hr | — | $32,936 |
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 Public Defense Board
FY 2018, amount paid
- Ward, William$152,569Public Defense State Publ
- Kolar, Kristine$150,496Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Kajer, Kevin L$149,789Public Defense Chief Admin
- Holmgren, Steven K$146,959Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Tucker, Rex I$146,959Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Middlebrook, Cathryn Y$141,777Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Cutcher, Scott R$139,950Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Lew, Daniel K$130,839Public Defense Chief Publ Def
Highest paid as Public Defense Asst Attorney
FY 2018, amount paid
- Riemer, John A$108,984Public Defense Board
- Lovejoy, Gayle M$106,695Public Defense Board
- Shea, Kevin Patrick$106,695Public Defense Board
- Merchant, David W$106,615Public Defense Board
- Schultz, Janet L$106,615Public Defense Board
- Sweeney, Diana M$106,615Public Defense Board
- Thompson, Paul G$106,615Public Defense Board
- Wright, William D$106,615Public Defense Board