Thom, Nathan W
NR Spec WLNatural Resources DeptCrow Wing CountyFull-time
WL-R2 Brainerd Staff. 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 98% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 34% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $75,694 | +0.2% | +3.1% | −2.9% |
| FY 2025 | $75,569 | +6.1% | +2.6% | +3.3% |
| FY 2024 | $71,246 | +1.2% | +3.3% | −2.0% |
| FY 2023 | $70,414 | +3.8% | +6.3% | −2.3% |
| FY 2022 | $67,835 | +4.7% | +7.2% | −2.3% |
| FY 2021 | $64,765 | +3.5% | +2.3% | +1.2% |
| FY 2020 | $62,552 | +3.2% | +1.6% | +1.6% |
| FY 2019 | $60,632 | +3.1% | +2.1% | +1.0% |
| FY 2018 | $58,824 | +7.0% | +2.3% | +4.7% |
| FY 2017 | $54,953 | +4.6% | +1.8% | +2.7% |
| FY 2016 | $52,548 | +5.4% | +0.7% | +4.7% |
| FY 2015 | $49,851 | +16.2% | +0.7% | +15.3% |
| FY 2014 | $42,918 | −1.9% | +1.6% | −3.4% |
| FY 2013 | $43,731 | +0.8% | +1.7% | −0.9% |
| FY 2012 | $43,386 | +13.6% | +2.9% | +10.3% |
| FY 2011 | $38,206 | — | — | — |
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 · NR Spec WL
Paid more than 82% of the 11 people with this job title that year. The median was $57,306.
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 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $35.96 /hr | $935 | $75,694 |
| 2025 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $35.43 /hr | $779 | $75,569 |
| 2024 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $33.90 /hr | $458 | $71,246 |
| 2023 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $32.13 /hr | $853 | $70,414 |
| 2022 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $31.35 /hr | $2,147 | $67,835 |
| 2021 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $30.59 /hr | $711 | $64,765 |
| 2020 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $29.84 /hr | $224 | $62,552 |
| 2019 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $29.18 /hr | — | $60,632 |
| 2018 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $28.54 /hr | $578 | $58,824 |
| 2017 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $26.99 /hr | $67 | $54,953 |
| 2016 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Crow Wing | $25.42 /hr | $772 | $52,548 |
| 2015 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Spec WL Full-time | Aitkin | $24.00 /hr | $978 | $49,851 |
| 2014 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time | Aitkin | $20.69 /hr | $60 | $42,918 |
| 2013 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Tech Wildlife Full-time | Aitkin | $19.01 /hr | $3,709 | $43,731 |
| 2012 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Brainerd Staff | NR Tech (Wildlife) Full-time | Aitkin | $18.64 /hr | $4,784 | $43,386 |
| 2011 | Natural Resources Dept WL-R2 Aitkin Staff | NR Tech (Wildlife) Full-time | Aitkin | $18.09 /hr | $1,127 | $38,206 |
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 Natural Resources Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lais, Daniel R$215,649State Prog Admin Manager Sr
- Smith, Rodmen E$205,052NR Dir - Enforcement
- Naramore, Barbara Lynn$198,561Deputy Commr Natural Resources
- Strommen, Sarah$197,945Commissioner-Natural Resources
- Lotthammer, Shannon M$186,471Asst Commr NR Operations
- Richards, Jess W$185,409Asst Commr NR Operations
- Meier, Robert H$185,344Asst Commr NR Operations
- Gorecki, Robert Andrew$184,600NR Asst Dir - Enforcement
Highest paid as NR Spec WL
FY 2026, amount paid
- Roskamp, Brandon$75,927Natural Resources Dept
- Kobberdahl, Justin$67,769Natural Resources Dept
- Arvidson, Jacob$63,419Natural Resources Dept
- Welinski, Hunter D$61,106Natural Resources Dept
- Parker, Allison Elizabeth$57,306Natural Resources Dept
- Thomas, Amaya$55,407Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Nicholson, Brilyn E$53,902Natural Resources Dept
- Deile, Madison$53,658Natural Resources Dept