Tester, Sarah
Engineer SeniorTransportation DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Project Management Metro. 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 2018 to FY 2026, pay went up 5,043% while consumer prices went up 32%. After inflation, pay is up 3,794% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $105,199 | +5.5% | +3.1% | +2.3% |
| FY 2025 | $99,712 | +9.9% | +2.6% | +7.1% |
| FY 2024 | $90,728 | +5.6% | +3.3% | +2.2% |
| FY 2023 | $85,949 | +19.3% | +6.3% | +12.2% |
| FY 2022 | $72,068 | +18.8% | +7.2% | +10.8% |
| FY 2021 | $60,669 | +23.0% | +2.3% | +20.2% |
| FY 2020 | $49,331 | +79.4% | +1.6% | +76.6% |
| FY 2019 | $27,500 | +1,244.4% | +2.1% | +1,217.1% |
| FY 2018 | $2,046 | — | — | — |
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 · Engineer Senior
Paid more than 36% of the 215 people with this job title that year. The median was $108,509.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
9 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Transportation Dept Project Management Metro | Engineer Senior Full-time | Ramsey | $52.27 /hr | — | $105,199 |
| 2025 | Transportation Dept Bridge Planning Section | Engineer Senior Full-time | Washington | $49.52 /hr | — | $99,712 |
| 2024 | Transportation Dept Bridge Planning Section | Engineer Senior Full-time | Washington | $45.59 /hr | $201 | $90,728 |
| 2023 | Transportation Dept Bridge Planning Section | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Washington | $40.01 /hr | $14 | $85,949 |
| 2022 | Transportation Dept Bridge Design Section | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Washington | $35.24 /hr | $568 | $72,068 |
| 2021 | Transportation Dept Bridge Design Section | Engineer 2 Graduate Full-time | Washington | $32.64 /hr | — | $60,669 |
| 2020 | Transportation Dept Administrative Support | Trainee-Graduate Engineer Full-time | Ramsey | $23.32 /hr | $1,956 | $49,331 |
| 2019 | Transportation Dept Golden Valley Central Res Off | Trainee-Graduate Engineer Full-time | Hennepin | $21.93 /hr | $8 | $27,500 |
| 2018 | Transportation Dept Bridge Const & Maint. Section | Student Worker Para Prof Sr Part-time | Washington | $15.38 /hr | — | $2,046 |
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 Engineer Senior
FY 2026, amount paid
- Stam, Yancey Joe$131,346Natural Resources Dept
- Fawaz, Mohamad$129,466Transportation Dept
- Fahrendorf, John Lester$126,068Transportation Dept
- Pan, Miao$125,892Transportation Dept
- Jones de Palma, Stephanie$125,247Health Department
- Sawyer, Scott A$121,571Labor & Industry Dept
- Blackwell, Jeff$121,219Public Safety Dept
- Baker, Ross H$121,109Transportation Dept