Walerak, Michael R
Environmental Specialist 4Pollution Control AgencyOlmsted CountyFull-time
EAO LT Surface Water Data Unit. 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 159% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 75% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $112,914 | +16.5% | +3.1% | +13.0% |
| FY 2025 | $96,924 | +19.5% | +2.6% | +16.4% |
| FY 2024 | $81,138 | +0.7% | +3.3% | −2.5% |
| FY 2023 | $80,557 | +7.4% | +6.3% | +1.1% |
| FY 2022 | $75,013 | +2.5% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $73,195 | +2.5% | +2.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2020 | $71,430 | +4.3% | +1.6% | +2.7% |
| FY 2019 | $68,499 | +5.2% | +2.1% | +3.0% |
| FY 2018 | $65,142 | +6.4% | +2.3% | +4.1% |
| FY 2017 | $61,210 | +2.1% | +1.8% | +0.3% |
| FY 2016 | $59,933 | +8.8% | +0.7% | +8.1% |
| FY 2015 | $55,082 | +8.4% | +0.7% | +7.6% |
| FY 2014 | $50,831 | +3.6% | +1.6% | +2.0% |
| FY 2013 | $49,069 | +10.0% | +1.7% | +8.2% |
| FY 2012 | $44,619 | +2.2% | +2.9% | −0.7% |
| FY 2011 | $43,658 | — | — | — |
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 · Environmental Specialist 4
Paid more than 94% of the 142 people with this job title that year. The median was $103,220.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
18 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT Surface Water Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 4 Full-time | Olmsted | $51.45 /hr | $3,673 | $112,914 |
| 2026 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT Surface Water Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time · left during year | Olmsted | $46.15 /hr | — | — |
| 2025 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT Surface Water Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 4 Full-time | Olmsted | $50.69 /hr | — | $96,924 |
| 2025 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT Surface Water Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time · left during year | Olmsted | $43.82 /hr | — | — |
| 2024 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT Surface Water Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $39.06 /hr | $20 | $81,138 |
| 2023 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT-Rvr Mntr&Cont Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $37.02 /hr | $722 | $80,557 |
| 2022 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT-Rvr Mntr&Cont Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $36.12 /hr | — | $75,013 |
| 2021 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT-Rvr Mntr&Cont Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $35.24 /hr | — | $73,195 |
| 2020 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT-Rvr Mntr&Cont Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $34.38 /hr | — | $71,430 |
| 2019 | Pollution Control Agency EAO LT-Rvr Mntr&Cont Data Unit | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $33.62 /hr | — | $68,499 |
| 2018 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WMWS POLLUTLOADMONITORUNIT | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $31.70 /hr | — | $65,142 |
| 2017 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WMWS POLLUTLOADMONITORUNIT | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $30.00 /hr | — | $61,210 |
| 2016 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WMWS POLLUTLOADMONITORUNIT | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $28.29 /hr | $1,252 | $59,933 |
| 2015 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WMWS POLLUTLOADMONITORUNIT | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $26.63 /hr | $798 | $55,082 |
| 2014 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WMWS POLLUTLOADMONITORUNIT | Environmental Specialist 3 Full-time | Olmsted | $24.94 /hr | — | $50,831 |
| 2013 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WMWS POLLUTLOADMONITORUNIT | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Olmsted | $23.38 /hr | $1,783 | $49,069 |
| 2012 | Pollution Control Agency EAO WM GW & Load Monitor Unit | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Olmsted | $22.18 /hr | $67 | $44,619 |
| 2011 | Pollution Control Agency REG WS Metro & St Croix Unit | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $21.40 /hr | $193 | $43,658 |
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 Pollution Control Agency
FY 2026, amount paid
- Benke, David J$206,695Pollution Cont Division Dir
- Kessler, Katrina$187,081Commissioner-Pollution Control
- Tester, Peter Lund$185,681Deputy Commr Pollution Control
- Kohlasch, Frank L$179,172Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Koudelka, Kirk G$179,172Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Vanderbosch, Dana A$174,964Asst Commr Pollution Control
- Fredrickson, Leslie$163,659General Counsel 2
- Cords, Wayne C$161,075Pollution Cont Division Dir
Highest paid as Environmental Specialist 4
FY 2026, amount paid
- Stafne, Ryan$123,262Pollution Control Agency
- Moran, Jason Paul$121,461Pollution Control Agency
- Smith, Mark P$121,054Pollution Control Agency
- Boley, Tyler$115,164Pollution Control Agency
- Hovde, Kayla Marie$115,034Pollution Control Agency
- Schulte, Michael$113,461Pollution Control Agency
- Boysen, Colin$113,368Pollution Control Agency
- Helbling, Dustin David$111,062Pollution Control Agency