Thorstenson, Karli Margreta
Communications Specialist 4Health DepartmentRamsey CountyFull-time
HPCD Asst Div Dir 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 2019 to FY 2026, pay went up 850% while consumer prices went up 29%. After inflation, pay is up 634% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $110,849 | +4.8% | +3.1% | +1.7% |
| FY 2025 | $105,737 | +8.1% | +2.6% | +5.4% |
| FY 2024 | $97,770 | +10.9% | +3.3% | +7.3% |
| FY 2023 | $88,170 | +15.1% | +6.3% | +8.3% |
| FY 2022 | $76,601 | +4.8% | +7.2% | −2.2% |
| FY 2021 | $73,109 | +10.2% | +2.3% | +7.7% |
| FY 2020 | $66,333 | +468.3% | +1.6% | +459.6% |
| FY 2019 | $11,672 | — | — | — |
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 · Communications Specialist 4
Paid more than 43% of the 37 people with this job title that year. The median was $110,849.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
8 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Health Department HPCD Asst Div Dir Staff | Communications Specialist 4 Full-time | Ramsey | $53.32 /hr | — | $110,849 |
| 2025 | Health Department HPCD Asst Div Dir Staff | Communications Specialist 4 Full-time | Ramsey | $52.53 /hr | — | $105,737 |
| 2024 | Health Department HPCD Asst Div Dir Staff | Communications Specialist 4 Full-time | Ramsey | $48.51 /hr | — | $97,770 |
| 2023 | Health Department HPCD Asst Div Dir Staff | Communications Specialist 4 Full-time | Ramsey | $44.38 /hr | — | $88,170 |
| 2022 | Health Department HPCD ADD Staff | Planner Principal State Full-time | Ramsey | $37.44 /hr | — | $76,601 |
| 2021 | Health Department HPCD ADD Staff | Planner Principal State Full-time | Ramsey | $35.24 /hr | $1,230 | $73,109 |
| 2020 | Health Department HPCD ADD Staff | Planner Principal State Full-time | Ramsey | $33.14 /hr | $771 | $66,333 |
| 2019 | Health Department CHP-CVH Staff | Planner Senior State Full-time | Ramsey | $29.18 /hr | — | $11,672 |
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 Health Department
FY 2026, amount paid
- Lynfield, Ruth$319,013Medical Specialist 4
- Lehnertz, Nicholas$273,587Medical Specialist 2
- Stadheim, Ruth$229,052State Prog Admin Coordinator
- Cunningham, Brooke$189,360Commissioner-Health
- Benson, Robin Christopher$188,266General Counsel 3
- Underwood, Wendy Lynne$187,354Deputy Commr Health
- Smith, Kirk E$185,409Epidemiologist Program Manager
- Desai, Jay$185,344Epidemiologist Program Manager
Highest paid as Communications Specialist 4
FY 2026, amount paid
- Harger, Amy$123,633Natural Resources Dept
- English, Amelia$112,022Natural Resources Dept
- Lamatsch, Rita L$111,849Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Hinton, Marie E$111,535Mn Management & Budget
- Sveen, Kaia J$111,329Health Department
- Olson, Adam John$111,315Pollution Control Agency
- Lee, Mehgan Maureen$111,296Human Services Dept
- Moore, Kathy Jeanne$110,850Health Department