Richards, Jess W
Asst Commr NR OperationsNatural Resources DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Deputy Comm 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 2011 to FY 2026, pay went up 109% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 41% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $185,409 | +2.5% | +3.1% | −0.6% |
| FY 2025 | $180,802 | +3.5% | +2.6% | +0.9% |
| FY 2024 | $174,620 | +1.7% | +3.3% | −1.6% |
| FY 2023 | $171,746 | +6.4% | +6.3% | +0.1% |
| FY 2022 | $161,402 | +2.4% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $157,573 | +4.9% | +2.3% | +2.6% |
| FY 2020 | $150,156 | +6.7% | +1.6% | +5.0% |
| FY 2019 | $140,745 | +5.1% | +2.1% | +3.0% |
| FY 2018 | $133,925 | +2.0% | +2.3% | −0.2% |
| FY 2017 | $131,287 | +2.5% | +1.8% | +0.6% |
| FY 2016 | $128,112 | +2.5% | +0.7% | +1.8% |
| FY 2015 | $124,986 | +2.5% | +0.7% | +1.8% |
| FY 2014 | $121,946 | +16.1% | +1.6% | +14.3% |
| FY 2013 | $105,009 | +13.5% | +1.7% | +11.6% |
| FY 2012 | $92,533 | +4.2% | +2.9% | +1.3% |
| FY 2011 | $88,784 | — | — | — |
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 · Asst Commr NR Operations
Too few people share this job title that year to make a fair comparison.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
22 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $87.09 /hr | — | $185,409 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $85.80 /hr | — | $180,802 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $82.11 /hr | — | $174,620 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $77.83 /hr | — | $171,746 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $75.93 /hr | — | $161,402 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $74.08 /hr | — | $157,573 |
| 2021 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $45.05 /hr | — | — |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $72.27 /hr | — | $150,156 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept Deputy Comm Staff | Asst Commr NR Operations Full-time | Ramsey | $70.68 /hr | — | $140,745 |
| 2019 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $53.86 /hr | — | — |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept Lands & Minerals | NR Dir - Lands & Minerals Full-time | Ramsey | $64.45 /hr | — | $133,925 |
| 2018 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $52.67 /hr | — | — |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept Lands & Minerals | NR Dir - Lands & Minerals Full-time | Ramsey | $63.19 /hr | — | $131,287 |
| 2017 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $51.64 /hr | — | — |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept Lands & Minerals | NR Dir - Lands & Minerals Full-time | Ramsey | $61.65 /hr | — | $128,112 |
| 2016 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $50.38 /hr | — | — |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept Lands & Minerals | NR Dir - Lands & Minerals Full-time | Ramsey | $60.15 /hr | — | $124,986 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept Lands & Minerals | NR Dir - Lands & Minerals Full-time | Ramsey | $58.40 /hr | — | $121,946 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept Lands & Minerals | NR Dir - Lands & Minerals Full-time | Ramsey | $54.80 /hr | — | $105,009 |
| 2013 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $45.05 /hr | — | — |
| 2012 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD Division Managers | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $45.05 /hr | — | $92,533 |
| 2011 | Pollution Control Agency IND Asst Division Director | Pollution Cont Asst Div Dir Full-time | Ramsey | $45.05 /hr | — | $88,784 |
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
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
- Gray, Timothy V$181,160NR Spec 4 Co Pilot
Highest paid as Asst Commr NR Operations
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Natural Resources Dept
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Natural Resources Dept
- Smith, Katie E$177,675Natural Resources Dept