Saarela, Renee
State Prog Admin PrinHealth DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
HEP-Healthcare Mrket Ovrsite. 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 2017 to FY 2026, pay went up 427% while consumer prices went up 35%. After inflation, pay is up 291% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $81,876 | +5.1% | +3.1% | +1.9% |
| FY 2025 | $77,881 | +12.0% | +2.6% | +9.1% |
| FY 2024 | $69,549 | +12.1% | +3.3% | +8.5% |
| FY 2023 | $62,052 | +6.5% | +6.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2022 | $58,264 | +21.0% | +7.2% | +12.9% |
| FY 2021 | $48,146 | +6.0% | +2.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2020 | $45,414 | +5.9% | +1.6% | +4.3% |
| FY 2019 | $42,868 | +17.8% | +2.1% | +15.4% |
| FY 2018 | $36,389 | +134.4% | +2.3% | +129.2% |
| FY 2017 | $15,523 | — | — | — |
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 · State Prog Admin Prin
Paid more than 23% of the 696 people with this job title that year. The median was $94,375.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
12 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department HEP-Healthcare Mrket Ovrsite | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $39.93 /hr | — | $81,876 |
| 2025 | Health Department HP HEP Hlth Policy Res Staff | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $37.98 /hr | — | $77,881 |
| 2024 | Health Department HP HEP Hlth Policy Res Staff | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $35.13 /hr | — | $69,549 |
| 2024 | Health Department HP HEP Hlth Policy Res Staff | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $35.13 /hr | — | — |
| 2023 | Commerce Dept Unclaimed Property Claims | State Prog Admin Intermediate Full-time | Ramsey | $28.96 /hr | — | $62,052 |
| 2022 | Commerce Dept Unclaimed Property | State Prog Admin Intermediate Full-time | Ramsey | $27.25 /hr | $1,492 | $58,264 |
| 2021 | Commerce Dept Unclaimed Property | State Prog Admin Full-time | Ramsey | $23.27 /hr | — | $48,146 |
| 2020 | Commerce Dept Unclaimed Property | State Prog Admin Full-time | Ramsey | $21.93 /hr | — | $45,414 |
| 2019 | Commerce Dept Unclaimed Property | State Prog Admin Full-time | Ramsey | $20.83 /hr | $83 | $42,868 |
| 2019 | Commerce Dept Unclaimed Property | State Prog Admin Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $20.83 /hr | — | — |
| 2018 | Health Department Sage Program Support Staff | Office & Admin Specialist Int Full-time | Ramsey | $18.12 /hr | $79 | $36,389 |
| 2017 | Health Department Sage Program Support Staff | Office & Admin Specialist Int Full-time | Ramsey | $17.30 /hr | — | $15,523 |
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 Health Department
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lynfield, Ruth$319,013Medical Specialist 4
- Lehnertz, Nicholas$273,587Medical Specialist 2
- Stadheim, Ruth$229,052State Prog Admin Coordinator
- Cunningham, Brooke$189,360Commissioner-Health
- Benson, Robin Christopher$188,266General Counsel 3
- Underwood, Wendy Lynne$187,354Deputy Commr Health
- Smith, Kirk E$185,409Epidemiologist Program Manager
- Desai, Jay$185,344Epidemiologist Program Manager
Highest paid as State Prog Admin Prin
FY 2026, amount paid
- Nierengarten, Gary Joseph$265,277Military Affairs Dept
- Erickson, Brian$129,620Agriculture Dept
- McCanney, James$123,794Transportation Dept
- Johnson, Robert A$118,153Natural Resources Dept
- Yang, Teri L$116,288Mn Management & Budget
- Schaefer, Benjamin J$115,087Natural Resources Dept
- Cullimore, Miriam Eleanor$113,881Office of Higher Education
- Kitto, Danielle N$113,189Public Safety Dept