Wellnitz, James D.
State Patrol TrooperPublic Safety DeptDakota CountyFull-time
CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro. 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 2017, pay went up 3% while consumer prices went up 10%. After inflation, pay is down 6% (it fell behind inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2017 | $87,580 | +5.3% | +1.8% | +3.4% |
| FY 2016 | $83,207 | −5.9% | +0.7% | −6.5% |
| FY 2015 | $88,382 | +11.2% | +0.7% | +10.4% |
| FY 2014 | $79,459 | +1.4% | +1.6% | −0.2% |
| FY 2013 | $78,375 | −9.5% | +1.7% | −11.0% |
| FY 2012 | $86,599 | +2.0% | +2.9% | −0.9% |
| FY 2011 | $84,888 | — | — | — |
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 2017 · State Patrol Trooper
Paid more than 84% of the 563 people with this job title that year. The median was $77,957.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
7 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time · left during year | Dakota | $37.40 /hr | $5,554 | $87,580 |
| 2016 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Dakota | $36.49 /hr | $7,379 | $83,207 |
| 2015 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Dakota | $35.61 /hr | $11,992 | $88,382 |
| 2014 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Dakota | $33.57 /hr | $9,000 | $79,459 |
| 2013 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Dakota | $32.91 /hr | $9,922 | $78,375 |
| 2012 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Dakota | $32.91 /hr | $17,093 | $86,599 |
| 2011 | Public Safety Dept CVI Mobile & Fixed Metro | State Patrol Trooper Full-time | Dakota | $32.91 /hr | $16,648 | $84,888 |
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 Public Safety Dept
FY 2017, amount paid
- Dohman, Ramona L$158,110Commissioner-Public Safety
- Langer, Matthew C$156,254State Patrol Chief
- Evans, Andrew W$142,626Superintendent BCA
- Galili, Oded$140,148Information Syst Director
- O'Hern, Cassandra O$132,746Deputy Commr Public Safety
- Knutson, Catherine M$130,857Forensic Laboratory Dir
- Gibbs, Patrick G.$130,782State Patrol Trooper
- Bergstrand, Glen A$129,685State Fire Safety Supervisor
Highest paid as State Patrol Trooper
FY 2017, amount paid
- Gibbs, Patrick G.$130,782Public Safety Dept
- Gorski, Paul J$122,313Public Safety Dept
- Hibbard, Mark R$118,499Public Safety Dept
- Wells, Gerald L.$115,838Public Safety Dept
- Heyman, Joseph R.$115,450Public Safety Dept
- Lautigar, Michael R$110,349Public Safety Dept
- Krambeer, Adam James$110,260Public Safety Dept
- Schneider, Scott A$107,522Public Safety Dept