Smith, Benjamin M
Exec 2Employ & Econ Development DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
WFD Workforce Dev Director X. Minnesota state employee pay history, from State of Minnesota salary data.
Different person with the same name: Public Defense Board, FY 2026
Pay by fiscal year
Total paid across all records in each year, overtime included, compared with consumer prices.
From FY 2025 to FY 2026, pay went down 0% while consumer prices went up 3%. After inflation, pay is down 3% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $75,321 | −0.1% | +3.1% | −3.1% |
| FY 2025 | $75,393 | — | — | — |
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 · Exec 2
Paid more than 75% of the 118 people with this job title that year. The median was $75,255.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
2 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director X | Exec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $36.23 /hr | — | $75,321 |
| 2025 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director X | Exec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $35.69 /hr | $758 | $75,393 |
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 Employ & Econ Development Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Mulhern, Gerald G$196,744Unemployment Ins Prog Dir
- Rowe, Evan M$191,860Deputy Commr Empl & Econ Devel
- McKinnon, Kevin$187,354Deputy Commr Empl & Econ Devel
- Varilek, Matt D.$187,081Commissioner-Empl & Econ Dev
- Majors, Marc$186,092Dir Employment Programs
- Knutson, Katie M$174,964Asst Commr Empl & Economic Dev
- Lefholz, Emily J$174,879Asst Commr Empl & Economic Dev
- Parker, May Chao$169,289General Counsel 2
Highest paid as Exec 2
FY 2026, amount paid
- Hite-Kirk, Susan M$94,139Housing Finance Agency
- Gerlach, Kara Jean$81,742MN St Colleges & Universities
- Jensen, Nicole L$80,381Health Department
- Jameson, Susan Marie$80,075MN St Colleges & Universities
- Grabowski, Bridget Lynne$79,343Veterans Affairs Dept
- Lueken, Kristin M$79,029Corrections Dept
- Peine, Nicole M$78,320Veterans Affairs Dept
- Rodriguez, Gladys B$78,320Public Employees Retire Assoc