Rice, Michaela
Interpret Naturalist 1Minnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyPart-time
Education Programs. 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 2015 to FY 2019, pay went down 91% while consumer prices went up 7%. After inflation, pay is down 91% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $992 | — | — | — |
| FY 2016 | $4,980 | −54.2% | +0.7% | −54.5% |
| FY 2015 | $10,877 | — | — | — |
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 2019 · Interpret Naturalist 1
Paid more than 12% of the 94 people with this job title that year. The median was $9,143.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Education Programs | Interpret Naturalist 1 Part-time | Dakota | $19.46 /hr | — | $992 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Res Madelia Staff | NR Tech Full-time · left during year | Watonwan | $16.20 /hr | — | $4,980 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R4 Res Madelia Staff | NR Tech Full-time | Watonwan | $15.81 /hr | — | $10,877 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2019, amount paid
- Frawley, John$307,394Dir Zoological Gardens
- Frazier, David Burke$141,908Zoo Deputy Director
- Mosher, Abigail E$127,622Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Willis, Kevin$123,146Zoo Animal Programs Director
- Lahner, Lesanna Lyn$116,130Veterinarian
- Rasmussen, James M$109,057Veterinarian Senior
- Otten, Derik E$106,569State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Benson, Michelle Lynn$102,056Zoo Sales & Marketing Manager
Highest paid as Interpret Naturalist 1
FY 2019, amount paid
- Mochinski, Laurel Lee$61,400Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Crook, Donald A$59,877Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Ness, Christine I$58,917Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Devens, Dawn$58,600Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Tasa, Alexandria Z$58,539Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Armstrong, Judy C$58,533Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Kluever, Michaela E$55,207Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Brown, Rebecca R$54,292Minnesota Zoological Garden