Talbott, Melissa
Auditor PrincipalTransportation DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Audit Internal & Safeguarding. 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 2012 to FY 2026, pay went up 841% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is up 554% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $95,410 | +5.4% | +3.1% | +2.2% |
| FY 2025 | $90,546 | +8.1% | +2.6% | +5.3% |
| FY 2024 | $83,770 | +13.7% | +3.3% | +10.1% |
| FY 2023 | $73,653 | +10.2% | +6.3% | +3.7% |
| FY 2022 | $66,840 | +6.2% | +7.2% | −0.9% |
| FY 2021 | $62,928 | +6.1% | +2.3% | +3.7% |
| FY 2020 | $59,323 | +5.8% | +1.6% | +4.2% |
| FY 2019 | $56,051 | +5.7% | +2.1% | +3.6% |
| FY 2018 | $53,009 | +5.7% | +2.3% | +3.4% |
| FY 2017 | $50,146 | +5.9% | +1.8% | +4.0% |
| FY 2016 | $47,333 | +5.3% | +0.7% | +4.6% |
| FY 2015 | $44,944 | +9.0% | +0.7% | +8.2% |
| FY 2014 | $41,221 | +7.0% | +1.6% | +5.4% |
| FY 2013 | $38,509 | +279.9% | +1.7% | +273.7% |
| FY 2012 | $10,136 | — | — | — |
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 · Auditor Principal
Paid more than 38% of the 24 people with this job title that year. The median was $100,294.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Transportation Dept Audit Internal & Safeguarding | Auditor Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $46.15 /hr | — | $95,410 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept Audit Internal & Safeguarding | Auditor Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $43.82 /hr | — | $90,546 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept Internal Audit & Investigation | Auditor Principal Full-time | Ramsey | $40.49 /hr | — | $83,770 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept Internal Audit & Investigation | Auditor Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $34.45 /hr | — | $73,653 |
| 2022 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | Ramsey | $32.49 /hr | — | $66,840 |
| 2021 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | Ramsey | $30.59 /hr | — | $62,928 |
| 2020 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | St Louis | $28.78 /hr | — | $59,323 |
| 2019 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | St Louis | $27.18 /hr | — | $56,051 |
| 2018 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | St Louis | $25.72 /hr | — | $53,009 |
| 2017 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | St Louis | $24.32 /hr | — | $50,146 |
| 2016 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | St Louis | $22.95 /hr | — | $47,333 |
| 2015 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Int Full-time | St Louis | $21.66 /hr | — | $44,944 |
| 2014 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Full-time | St Louis | $20.31 /hr | — | $41,221 |
| 2013 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Full-time | St Louis | $19.09 /hr | $163 | $38,509 |
| 2012 | Revenue Dept Sales-Duluth/Bemidji/Eveleth | Revenue Tax Specialist Full-time | St Louis | $18.10 /hr | — | $10,136 |
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 Transportation Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Fairbanks, Michael Joseph$207,651Engineer Administrative
- Wallace, Jean Marie$201,630Deputy Commr Transportation
- Daubenberger, Nancy Therese$197,945Commissioner-Transportation
- Severs, Sara V$196,965Deputy Commr Transportation
- Erickson, Daniel E$192,340Engineer Princ Admin Transp
- Beer, Michael G$188,409Transp Division Engineer
- Van Dyck, Karin L$188,262Transp Chief Admin Officer
- Solberg, Jon P$187,477Transp Asst Div Dir
Highest paid as Auditor Principal
FY 2026, amount paid
- Reimers, Elizabeth$112,487Pollution Control Agency
- Dehmer, Derick$108,332Transportation Dept
- Lauer, Andrea Marie$106,850Labor & Industry Dept
- Garrett, Felicia Diane$103,242Transportation Dept
- Hinrichs-Clark, Ruth Ann$103,242Transportation Dept
- Durkot, Catherine Mary$103,241Education Department
- McCall, Bryan$103,241Education Department
- Joslin, James$103,240Commerce Dept