Thao, Sou
Grants Specialist SrEmploy & Econ Development DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
WFD Workforce Dev Director. 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 102% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 36% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $92,471 | +1.6% | +3.1% | −1.5% |
| FY 2025 | $91,025 | +7.5% | +2.6% | +4.7% |
| FY 2024 | $84,667 | +6.0% | +3.3% | +2.7% |
| FY 2023 | $79,841 | +6.4% | +6.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2022 | $75,017 | +2.5% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $73,196 | +1.7% | +2.3% | −0.6% |
| FY 2020 | $71,981 | +3.0% | +1.6% | +1.5% |
| FY 2019 | $69,853 | +3.1% | +2.1% | +1.0% |
| FY 2018 | $67,760 | +5.8% | +2.3% | +3.4% |
| FY 2017 | $64,058 | +4.4% | +1.8% | +2.5% |
| FY 2016 | $61,356 | +7.7% | +0.7% | +7.0% |
| FY 2015 | $56,964 | +5.8% | +0.7% | +5.0% |
| FY 2014 | $53,857 | +8.8% | +1.6% | +7.1% |
| FY 2013 | $49,502 | +6.1% | +1.7% | +4.3% |
| FY 2012 | $46,668 | +2.0% | +2.9% | −0.9% |
| FY 2011 | $45,760 | — | — | — |
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 · Grants Specialist Sr
Paid more than 73% of the 90 people with this job title that year. The median was $84,628.
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 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $44.48 /hr | — | $92,471 |
| 2025 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $43.82 /hr | — | $91,025 |
| 2024 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $41.93 /hr | — | $84,667 |
| 2023 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $37.02 /hr | — | $79,841 |
| 2022 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $36.12 /hr | — | $75,017 |
| 2021 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $35.24 /hr | — | $73,196 |
| 2020 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD Workforce Dev Director | Grants Specialist Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $34.38 /hr | — | $71,981 |
| 2019 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $33.62 /hr | — | $69,853 |
| 2018 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $32.88 /hr | — | $67,760 |
| 2017 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $31.08 /hr | — | $64,058 |
| 2016 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $29.27 /hr | — | $61,356 |
| 2015 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $27.60 /hr | — | $56,964 |
| 2014 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $25.85 /hr | — | $53,857 |
| 2013 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $24.21 /hr | — | $49,502 |
| 2012 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $22.92 /hr | — | $46,668 |
| 2011 | Employ & Econ Development Dept WFD WF Systems Coordination | Workforce Development Spec 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $22.18 /hr | — | $45,760 |
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 Grants Specialist Sr
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lauren, Diane M$116,046Health Department
- McGraw, Jeane Lynn$93,371MN St Colleges & Universities
- Rech, Norrita Ann$92,601Education Department
- Davern, Jennifer L$92,472Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Scheurich, Shannon$92,472Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Babcock, Emily Joyce$92,472Health Department
- Ausen, Sonja$92,471Health Department
- Bergevin, Joel L$92,471Education Department