Watz, Donna M
General Counsel 2Human Services DeptRamsey CountyFull-time
Legal Mgt Admin Law. 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 2025, pay went down 15% while consumer prices went up 44%. After inflation, pay is down 41% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $66,937 | −58.9% | +2.6% | −59.9% |
| FY 2024 | $162,675 | +6.5% | +3.3% | +3.1% |
| FY 2023 | $152,723 | +12.8% | +6.3% | +6.2% |
| FY 2022 | $135,341 | +2.4% | +7.2% | −4.4% |
| FY 2021 | $132,133 | +4.9% | +2.3% | +2.6% |
| FY 2020 | $125,942 | +15.7% | +1.6% | +13.9% |
| FY 2019 | $108,876 | +2.3% | +2.1% | +0.2% |
| FY 2018 | $106,455 | +2.0% | +2.3% | −0.3% |
| FY 2017 | $104,375 | +1.6% | +1.8% | −0.2% |
| FY 2016 | $102,736 | +3.4% | +0.7% | +2.7% |
| FY 2015 | $99,372 | +3.0% | +0.7% | +2.3% |
| FY 2014 | $96,481 | +4.0% | +1.6% | +2.4% |
| FY 2013 | $92,772 | +19.2% | +1.7% | +17.3% |
| FY 2012 | $77,811 | −1.4% | +2.9% | −4.2% |
| FY 2011 | $78,894 | — | — | — |
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 · General Counsel 2
Paid more than 4% of the 24 people with this job title that year. The median was $162,272.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
16 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Human Services Dept Legal Mgt Admin Law | General Counsel 2 Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $79.78 /hr | — | $66,937 |
| 2024 | Human Services Dept Legal Mgt Admin Law | General Counsel 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $76.34 /hr | — | $162,675 |
| 2023 | Human Services Dept Legal Mgt Admin Law | General Counsel 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $69.91 /hr | — | $152,723 |
| 2022 | Human Services Dept Legal Mgt Admin Law | General Counsel 2 Full-time | Ramsey | $65.90 /hr | — | $135,341 |
| 2021 | Human Services Dept Legal Mgt Admin Law | Human Services Manager 4 Full-time | Ramsey | $62.12 /hr | — | $132,133 |
| 2020 | Human Services Dept OPR Legal Management Office | Human Services Manager 4 Full-time | Ramsey | $60.60 /hr | — | $125,942 |
| 2020 | Human Services Dept OPR Legal Management Office | Human Services Manager 4 Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $57.80 /hr | — | — |
| 2019 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $51.41 /hr | — | $108,876 |
| 2018 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $50.28 /hr | — | $106,455 |
| 2017 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $49.29 /hr | — | $104,375 |
| 2016 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $48.09 /hr | — | $102,736 |
| 2015 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $46.92 /hr | — | $99,372 |
| 2014 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $45.55 /hr | — | $96,481 |
| 2013 | Commerce Dept Legal Services | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $44.22 /hr | — | $92,772 |
| 2012 | Commerce Dept MA Contract Administration | Attorney 3 Full-time | Ramsey | $43.35 /hr | — | $77,811 |
| 2011 | Health Department OfficeofHealthInformTechStaff | Planning Dir State Full-time | Ramsey | $37.93 /hr | — | $78,894 |
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 Human Services Dept
FY 2025, amount paid
- Chomilo, Nathan Tseboh$235,515Medical Specialist 4
- Brown, Kary$220,412Registered Nurse Advanced Prac
- Vanbuskirk, Alan B$201,150Institutional Supp Svcs Dir
- Swanson, Jeffrey J$201,114Human Services Manager 4
- Farago, Nichole J$198,536Deputy Commr Human Services
- Provance, Jeffrey Todd$197,977Dir Actuarial & Reg Plcy Analy
- Gandhi, Shireen Karla$189,128Commissioner-Human Services
- Akbay, Amy Kaldor$187,338General Counsel 3
Highest paid as General Counsel 2
FY 2025, amount paid
- Gerasch, Tracy A$173,644Minnesota IT Services
- Park, Jennifer K$172,923Human Services Dept
- Johnson, Andrew Francis$168,924Human Services Dept
- Payne, Sara J$167,159Commerce Dept
- Coleman, Jean Lynn$166,159Public Utilities Comm
- Klatt, Michelle L$166,159Minnesota IT Services
- Parker, May Chao$166,159Employ & Econ Development Dept
- Jahnke, Cynthia B$166,125Children Youth & Families Dept