Schwichtenberg, Joel
Plant Mntc EngineerMinnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyFull-time
Engineering. 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 2025, pay went up 39% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is down 3% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $76,034 | −10.4% | +2.6% | −12.7% |
| FY 2024 | $84,825 | +8.6% | +3.3% | +5.2% |
| FY 2023 | $78,088 | +10.1% | +6.3% | +3.6% |
| FY 2022 | $70,953 | +4.5% | +7.2% | −2.5% |
| FY 2021 | $67,922 | +3.4% | +2.3% | +1.0% |
| FY 2020 | $65,715 | −2.0% | +1.6% | −3.5% |
| FY 2019 | $67,049 | −9.1% | +2.1% | −10.9% |
| FY 2018 | $73,723 | +19.0% | +2.3% | +16.4% |
| FY 2017 | $61,957 | +1.7% | +1.8% | −0.1% |
| FY 2016 | $60,920 | −6.4% | +0.7% | −7.0% |
| FY 2015 | $65,099 | −1.8% | +0.7% | −2.5% |
| FY 2014 | $66,313 | +15.2% | +1.6% | +13.5% |
| FY 2013 | $57,551 | +0.2% | +1.7% | −1.5% |
| FY 2012 | $57,462 | +5.4% | +2.9% | +2.4% |
| FY 2011 | $54,520 | — | — | — |
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 2025 · Plant Mntc Engineer
Paid more than 24% of the 121 people with this job title that year. The median was $79,770.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
15 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering | Plant Mntc Engineer Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $38.40 /hr | $2,257 | $76,034 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $35.64 /hr | $4,525 | $84,825 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering & Heat Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $32.77 /hr | $3,751 | $78,088 |
| 2022 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering & Heat Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $31.97 /hr | $2,612 | $70,953 |
| 2021 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering & Heat Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $30.34 /hr | $2,628 | $67,922 |
| 2020 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering & Heat Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $28.65 /hr | $3,610 | $65,715 |
| 2019 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering Sup | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $28.02 /hr | $6,422 | $67,049 |
| 2018 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering Sup | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $27.40 /hr | $14,178 | $73,723 |
| 2017 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering Sup | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $26.86 /hr | $3,102 | $61,957 |
| 2016 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Engineering Sup | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $26.20 /hr | $4,009 | $60,920 |
| 2015 | MN Zoological Garden Engineering Sup | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $25.56 /hr | $10,160 | $65,099 |
| 2014 | MN Zoological Garden Heating Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $24.82 /hr | $14,309 | $66,313 |
| 2013 | MN Zoological Garden Heating Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $23.45 /hr | $8,931 | $57,551 |
| 2012 | MN Zoological Garden Heating Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $22.99 /hr | $6,845 | $57,462 |
| 2011 | MN Zoological Garden Heating Plant | Stationary Engineer Full-time | Dakota | $22.99 /hr | $5,983 | $54,520 |
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 2025, amount paid
- Frawley, John$405,933Dir Zoological Gardens
- Cowen, Amy Ritter$164,824Zoo Deputy Director
- Mosher, Abigail E$160,488Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$157,059Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Tillery, Otha$145,022Plant Mgmt Dir
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$144,327Human Resources Director 3
- Garity, Susan C$142,651Veterinarian
- Berlin, Erin Rachel$134,053Veterinarian
Highest paid as Plant Mntc Engineer
FY 2025, amount paid
- Hayes, Andrew L$101,859MN St Colleges & Universities
- Becker, Ryan W$97,840MN St Colleges & Universities
- Solonenko, Vitalii$93,394MN St Colleges & Universities
- Golembeski, Michael Robert$91,275Transportation Dept
- Sletta, Scott E$90,727Corrections Dept
- Grunklee, Brett$89,683Corrections Dept
- Johnson, Jason E$88,415Corrections Dept
- Merchlewitz, John P$88,216MN St Colleges & Universities