Smith, Michelle Kay
Safety Consultant PrincipalLabor & Industry DeptBlue Earth CountyFull-time
WPS Traditional 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 2011 to FY 2026, pay went up 91% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 29% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $106,961 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $105,296 | +4.5% | +2.6% | +1.8% |
| FY 2024 | $100,739 | +2.8% | +3.3% | −0.5% |
| FY 2023 | $98,018 | +9.0% | +6.3% | +2.6% |
| FY 2022 | $89,928 | +2.0% | +7.2% | −4.8% |
| FY 2021 | $88,136 | +2.9% | +2.3% | +0.6% |
| FY 2020 | $85,622 | +2.3% | +1.6% | +0.7% |
| FY 2019 | $83,731 | +1.0% | +2.1% | −1.0% |
| FY 2018 | $82,893 | +3.3% | +2.3% | +1.0% |
| FY 2017 | $80,281 | +5.1% | +1.8% | +3.2% |
| FY 2016 | $76,374 | +6.3% | +0.7% | +5.5% |
| FY 2015 | $71,879 | +6.7% | +0.7% | +6.0% |
| FY 2014 | $67,336 | +7.8% | +1.6% | +6.1% |
| FY 2013 | $62,462 | +8.0% | +1.7% | +6.2% |
| FY 2012 | $57,848 | +3.5% | +2.9% | +0.6% |
| FY 2011 | $55,869 | — | — | — |
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 · Safety Consultant Principal
Paid more than 67% of the 12 people with this job title that year. The median was $106,888.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
16 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $51.45 /hr | — | $106,961 |
| 2025 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $50.69 /hr | — | $105,296 |
| 2024 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $48.51 /hr | — | $100,739 |
| 2023 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $45.98 /hr | — | $98,018 |
| 2022 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $43.30 /hr | — | $89,928 |
| 2021 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $42.24 /hr | — | $88,136 |
| 2020 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $41.21 /hr | — | $85,622 |
| 2019 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $40.30 /hr | — | $83,731 |
| 2018 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $39.41 /hr | — | $82,893 |
| 2017 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $38.64 /hr | — | $80,281 |
| 2016 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $37.70 /hr | — | $76,374 |
| 2015 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $35.37 /hr | — | $71,879 |
| 2014 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $33.18 /hr | — | $67,336 |
| 2013 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $31.06 /hr | — | $62,462 |
| 2012 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Principal Full-time | Blue Earth | $29.38 /hr | — | $57,848 |
| 2011 | Labor & Industry Dept WPS Traditional Programs | Safety Consultant Full-time | Blue Earth | $27.33 /hr | — | $55,869 |
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 Labor & Industry Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- McKown, Scott D$225,362Asst Dir Constr Codes & Lic
- Blissenbach, Nicole Marie$185,181Commissioner-Labor & Industry
- Perushek, Mary Katherine$183,485Deputy Commr Labor & Industry
- Mah, Hared Ahmed$178,188Research Scientist 3
- Stimac, Jessica Marlene$172,603Asst Commr Labor & Industry
- Swanson, Kristy L.$168,789Asst Commr Labor & Industry
- Green, Todd A$161,019Dir Constru Codes and Lic
- Zajac, Laura Bonnie$156,690Staff Attorney Supervisor
Highest paid as Safety Consultant Principal
FY 2026, amount paid
- Wallace, Ronald D$106,963Labor & Industry Dept
- Seliga, Michael G$106,962Labor & Industry Dept
- Fossum, David H$106,961Labor & Industry Dept
- Emmons, James F$106,961Labor & Industry Dept
- Jiang, Ling$106,961Labor & Industry Dept
- Van Lent, Kyle J$106,814Labor & Industry Dept
- Arnold, Daaron Robert$104,710Labor & Industry Dept
- Servian, Robert G$104,190Labor & Industry Dept