Thompson, Melanie Jane
CookVeterans Affairs DeptFillmore CountyPart-time
MVH-Preston Dining Svcs. 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 2024 to FY 2026, pay went up 89% while consumer prices went up 6%. After inflation, pay is up 79% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $57,995 | +15.4% | +3.1% | +11.9% |
| FY 2025 | $50,266 | +63.9% | +2.6% | +59.7% |
| FY 2024 | $30,663 | — | — | — |
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 · Cook
Paid more than 65% of the 93 people with this job title that year. The median was $48,342.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
3 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Preston Dining Svcs | Cook Part-time | Fillmore | $29.22 /hr | $5,410 | $57,995 |
| 2025 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Preston Dining Svcs | Cook Part-time | Fillmore | $28.79 /hr | $5,810 | $50,266 |
| 2024 | Veterans Affairs Dept MVH-Preston Dining Svcs | Cook Part-time | Fillmore | $25.32 /hr | $1,953 | $30,663 |
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 Veterans Affairs Dept
FY 2026, amount paid
- Ercan-Fang, Sean$306,781Medical Specialist 4
- Saleem, Javaid$243,486Medical Specialist 3
- Nelson, Bryan Allen$239,851Medical Specialist 3
- Hagans, Elnora M$213,140Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Kayes, Shahrior$211,071Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Chalupsky, Paulina$201,138Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Weir, Andrew P$194,254Pharmacist Manager
- Cline, James Michael$187,214Medical Specialist 3
Highest paid as Cook
FY 2026, amount paid
- Quito, Angelo Adrian$79,659Veterans Affairs Dept
- Benshoof, Melissa$75,756Veterans Affairs Dept
- Chester, Patrick Lee$71,954Veterans Affairs Dept
- Rikess, Robert William$68,440Veterans Affairs Dept
- Arthur, Charles S$67,988Veterans Affairs Dept
- Hartmann, Gayle Ann$67,906Veterans Affairs Dept
- Joslin, Jared Andrew$67,636Veterans Affairs Dept
- Collins, Leo Patrick$67,566Veterans Affairs Dept