Stanley, Michael B
Counsel IVSenateRamsey CountyFull-time
Counsel. 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 2021 to FY 2026, pay went up 54% while consumer prices went up 25%. After inflation, pay is up 23% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $131,854 | +8.1% | +3.1% | +4.8% |
| FY 2025 | $122,029 | +8.6% | +2.6% | +5.8% |
| FY 2024 | $112,399 | +14.1% | +3.3% | +10.4% |
| FY 2023 | $98,550 | +5.1% | +6.3% | −1.1% |
| FY 2022 | $93,793 | +9.3% | +7.2% | +2.0% |
| FY 2021 | $85,813 | — | — | — |
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 · Counsel IV
Paid more than 0% of the 6 people with this job title that year. The median was $154,352.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
6 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Senate Counsel | Counsel IV Full-time | Ramsey | $60.94 /hr | — | $131,854 |
| 2025 | Senate Counsel | Counsel IV Full-time | Ramsey | $57.44 /hr | — | $122,029 |
| 2024 | Senate Counsel | Counsel IV Full-time | Ramsey | $53.94 /hr | — | $112,399 |
| 2023 | Senate Counsel | Counsel III Full-time | Ramsey | $44.70 /hr | — | $98,550 |
| 2022 | Senate Counsel | Counsel III Full-time | Ramsey | $43.08 /hr | — | $93,793 |
| 2021 | Senate Counsel | Counsel III Full-time | Ramsey | $41.52 /hr | — | $85,813 |
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 Senate
FY 2026, amount paid
- Bottern, Thomas S$239,017Secretary of the Senate
- Nauman, Eric$214,257Principal Fiscal Analyst
- Stangl, Alexis C$209,559Dir of Counsel/Research/Analys
- Mueller, Daniel L$191,296Lead Fiscal Analyst
- Sharkey-Smith, Brianna P$188,596Executive Director Rules Comm
- Turner, Chris L$187,419Fiscal Analyst IV
- Backhus, Kenneth P$184,503Counsel IV
- Runquist, Christopher M$181,334Legislative Director
Highest paid as Counsel IV
FY 2026, amount paid
- Backhus, Kenneth P$184,503Senate
- Lewis, Ann Marie$174,088Senate
- James, Stephanie J$154,969Senate
- Pollock, Nora Brandt$153,734Senate
- Silvia, Eric$140,225Senate