Wenzel, Melissa A
State Prog Admin PrinPollution Control AgencyRamsey CountyFull-time
RMAD SustainMaterial MgmtUnit. 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 107% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 40% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $100,172 | +2.5% | +3.1% | −0.6% |
| FY 2025 | $97,720 | +4.5% | +2.6% | +1.9% |
| FY 2024 | $93,475 | +1.6% | +3.3% | −1.7% |
| FY 2023 | $92,020 | +6.5% | +6.3% | +0.2% |
| FY 2022 | $86,427 | +1.7% | +7.2% | −5.1% |
| FY 2021 | $85,016 | +1.9% | +2.3% | −0.4% |
| FY 2020 | $83,429 | +1.2% | +1.6% | −0.4% |
| FY 2019 | $82,436 | +7.3% | +2.1% | +5.1% |
| FY 2018 | $76,825 | +5.7% | +2.3% | +3.3% |
| FY 2017 | $72,712 | +6.3% | +1.8% | +4.4% |
| FY 2016 | $68,399 | +4.3% | +0.7% | +3.6% |
| FY 2015 | $65,567 | +5.7% | +0.7% | +5.0% |
| FY 2014 | $62,013 | +10.5% | +1.6% | +8.8% |
| FY 2013 | $56,109 | +10.1% | +1.7% | +8.3% |
| FY 2012 | $50,939 | +5.4% | +2.9% | +2.4% |
| FY 2011 | $48,349 | — | — | — |
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 · State Prog Admin Prin
Paid more than 92% of the 696 people with this job title that year. The median was $94,375.
Uses the amount paid in the year, so partial years and part-time positions read low.
See everyone with this job titleEvery record
20 records, newest first
| FY | Agency | Job title | County | Base pay | Overtime | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD SustainMaterial MgmtUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $47.76 /hr | $382 | $100,172 |
| 2025 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD SustainMaterial MgmtUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $47.05 /hr | — | $97,720 |
| 2024 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD SustainMaterial MgmtUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $45.02 /hr | — | $93,475 |
| 2023 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD ProdSustain&PartnershUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $42.67 /hr | — | $92,020 |
| 2022 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD ProdSustain&PartnershUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $41.63 /hr | — | $86,427 |
| 2022 | Health Department MIIC Operations Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Part-time · left during year | Ramsey | $40.61 /hr | — | — |
| 2022 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD ProdSustain&PartnershUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $40.61 /hr | — | — |
| 2021 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD ProdSustain&PartnershUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $40.61 /hr | — | $85,016 |
| 2021 | Health Department MIIC Operations Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Part-time | Ramsey | $40.61 /hr | — | — |
| 2021 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD ProdSustain&PartnershUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time · left during year | Ramsey | $40.61 /hr | — | — |
| 2020 | Pollution Control Agency RMAD ProdSustain&PartnershUnit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $39.62 /hr | — | $83,429 |
| 2019 | Water & Soil Resources Board Org Effectiveness | State Prog Admin Coordinator Full-time | Ramsey | $41.76 /hr | — | $82,436 |
| 2018 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $37.90 /hr | — | $76,825 |
| 2017 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $35.91 /hr | $78 | $72,712 |
| 2016 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $33.77 /hr | — | $68,399 |
| 2015 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $31.80 /hr | $1,220 | $65,567 |
| 2014 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $29.79 /hr | $1,736 | $62,013 |
| 2013 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | State Prog Admin Prin Full-time | Ramsey | $27.88 /hr | $1,338 | $56,109 |
| 2012 | Pollution Control Agency IND WS Water Compliance Unit | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $24.61 /hr | $1,366 | $50,939 |
| 2011 | Pollution Control Agency IND CE WQ Compliance &Enf Unit | Pollution Cont Spec Sr Full-time | Ramsey | $23.74 /hr | — | $48,349 |
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 State Prog Admin Prin
FY 2026, amount paid
- Nierengarten, Gary Joseph$265,277Military Affairs Dept
- Erickson, Brian$129,620Agriculture Dept
- McCanney, James$123,794Transportation Dept
- Johnson, Robert A$118,153Natural Resources Dept
- Yang, Teri L$116,288Mn Management & Budget
- Schaefer, Benjamin J$115,087Natural Resources Dept
- Cullimore, Miriam Eleanor$113,881Office of Higher Education
- Kitto, Danielle N$113,189Public Safety Dept