Thompson, Jacob Andrew
Interpret Naturalist 1Minnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyPart-time
Zoo Camp. 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 2023 to FY 2026, pay went up 579% while consumer prices went up 9%. After inflation, pay is up 521% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $8,622 | −10.6% | +3.1% | −13.4% |
| FY 2025 | $9,650 | +37.7% | +2.6% | +34.2% |
| FY 2024 | $7,007 | +451.9% | +3.3% | +434.2% |
| FY 2023 | $1,270 | — | — | — |
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 · Interpret Naturalist 1
Paid more than 44% of the 79 people with this job title that year. The median was $10,502.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
4 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Zoo Camp | Interpret Naturalist 1 Part-time | Dakota | $26.43 /hr | $303 | $8,622 |
| 2025 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Zoo Camp | Interpret Naturalist 1 Part-time | Dakota | $25.29 /hr | $271 | $9,650 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Zoo Camp | Interpret Naturalist 1 Part-time | Dakota | $22.61 /hr | — | $7,007 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Zoo Camp | Interpret Naturalist 1 Part-time | Dakota | $21.43 /hr | — | $1,270 |
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 Minnesota Zoological Garden
FY 2026, amount paid
- Frawley, John$421,176Dir Zoological Gardens
- Mosher, Abigail E$163,030Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$161,019Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Garity, Susan C$149,247Veterinarian
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$146,607Human Resources Director 3
- Tillery, Otha$146,607Plant Mgmt Dir
- Kochevar, Randall$144,059Zoo Animal Programs Director
- Hoye, Pamela Ann$134,577State Prog Admin Manager Sr
Highest paid as Interpret Naturalist 1
FY 2026, amount paid
- Tasa, Alexandria Z$76,008Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Mochinski, Laurel Lee$74,924Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Endert, Emily Beth$74,725Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Kluever, Michaela E$74,429Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Armstrong, Judy C$74,000Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Johnson Magle, Jean Momoe$66,116Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Swenson, Sara Christina$58,510Minnesota Zoological Garden
- Cocchiarella, Daniel Stephen$55,988Natural Resources Dept