Wickenheiser, Penny
Public Defense InvestigatorPublic Defense BoardStearns CountyFull-time
Seventh District Detroit Lakes. 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 2024 to FY 2026, pay went up 1,200% while consumer prices went up 6%. After inflation, pay is up 1,128% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $77,459 | +0.0% | +3.1% | −3.0% |
| FY 2025 | $77,459 | +1,200.0% | +2.6% | +1,166.6% |
| FY 2024 | $5,958 | — | — | — |
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 · Public Defense Investigator
Paid more than 14% of the 64 people with this job title that year. The median was $92,976.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Public Defense Board Seventh District Detroit Lakes | Public Defense Investigator Full-time | Stearns | $37.24 /hr | — | $77,459 |
| 2025 | Public Defense Board Seventh District Detroit Lakes | Public Defense Investigator Full-time | Stearns | $37.24 /hr | — | $77,459 |
| 2024 | Public Defense Board Seventh District Detroit Lakes | Public Defense Investigator Full-time | Stearns | $37.24 /hr | — | $5,958 |
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 Defense Board
FY 2026, amount paid
- Naatz, Cecil E$261,785Public Defense Managing Attrny
- Kajer, Kevin L$227,525Public Defense Chief Admin
- Middlebrook, Cathryn Y$227,525Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Ward, William$225,597Public Defense State Publ
- Lew, Daniel K$221,146Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Murphrey, Virginia$221,146Public Defense Chief Publ Def
- Hoyle, Kathleen Jo$210,940Public Defense Info Sys Dir
- Riemer, John A$205,440Public Defense Chief Publ Def
Highest paid as Public Defense Investigator
FY 2026, amount paid
- Zobrack, Laura$127,651Public Defense Board
- Shaw, Jeffrey$114,854Public Defense Board
- Zobrack, Brian$114,854Public Defense Board
- Montplaisir, Patrick J$114,317Public Defense Board
- Christopherson, Tracy Rae$114,317Public Defense Board
- Trocke, Tim$114,317Public Defense Board
- Mulholland, Jennifer Lynn$113,780Public Defense Board
- Gregg, Pamela J$111,634Public Defense Board