Vilendrer, Karyn
Customer Svcs SpecialistMinnesota Zoological GardenDakota CountyIntermittent
Guest Services. 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 2025, pay went up 26% while consumer prices went up 6%. After inflation, pay is up 19% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $20,027 | +35.6% | +2.6% | +32.1% |
| FY 2024 | $14,772 | −7.0% | +3.3% | −10.0% |
| FY 2023 | $15,884 | — | — | — |
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 2025 · Customer Svcs Specialist
Paid more than 47% of the 129 people with this job title that year. The median was $21,153.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Guest Services | Customer Svcs Specialist Intermittent · left during year | Dakota | $21.41 /hr | $784 | $20,027 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Guest Services | Customer Svcs Specialist Intermittent | Dakota | $19.57 /hr | $687 | $14,772 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Zoological Garden Guest Services | Customer Svcs Specialist Intermittent | Dakota | $18.16 /hr | $576 | $15,884 |
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 2025, amount paid
- Frawley, John$405,933Dir Zoological Gardens
- Cowen, Amy Ritter$164,824Zoo Deputy Director
- Mosher, Abigail E$160,488Agency Div Director Sr
- Kromschroeder, Sherry$157,059Agency Chief Financial Officer
- Tillery, Otha$145,022Plant Mgmt Dir
- Pearson, Dawn Renee$144,327Human Resources Director 3
- Garity, Susan C$142,651Veterinarian
- Berlin, Erin Rachel$134,053Veterinarian
Highest paid as Customer Svcs Specialist
FY 2025, amount paid
- Meine, Karen J$52,994MN St Colleges & Universities
- Traver, Jessica M$52,208MN St Colleges & Universities
- Buranen, Jennifer Lynn$52,055MN St Colleges & Universities
- Hall, Julie Marie$51,996Public Safety Dept
- Palmer, Latrisha$51,995MN St Colleges & Universities
- Smith, Brenda Kay$51,995MN St Colleges & Universities
- Dirkse, Kevin W$51,995MN St Colleges & Universities
- Sanner, Patti Jo$51,993Public Employees Retire Assoc