Zurek, Aaron E
Public Defense Chief Publ DefPublic Defense BoardHennepin CountyFull-time
Administrative Services Office. 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 351% while consumer prices went up 48%. After inflation, pay is up 204% (it beat inflation).
| Year | Paid | Change | Prices (CPI) | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $202,846 | +30.7% | +3.1% | +26.8% |
| FY 2025 | $155,149 | +5.0% | +2.6% | +2.3% |
| FY 2024 | $147,717 | +36.2% | +3.3% | +31.8% |
| FY 2023 | $108,459 | +34.9% | +6.3% | +26.9% |
| FY 2022 | $80,406 | +7.0% | +7.2% | −0.1% |
| FY 2021 | $75,111 | +8.7% | +2.3% | +6.3% |
| FY 2020 | $69,074 | +5.6% | +1.6% | +4.0% |
| FY 2019 | $65,395 | +4.8% | +2.1% | +2.7% |
| FY 2018 | $62,371 | +6.0% | +2.3% | +3.7% |
| FY 2017 | $58,845 | +6.7% | +1.8% | +4.8% |
| FY 2016 | $55,142 | +1.3% | +0.7% | +0.7% |
| FY 2015 | $54,407 | +17.5% | +0.7% | +16.7% |
| FY 2014 | $46,301 | −1.1% | +1.6% | −2.6% |
| FY 2013 | $46,797 | +0.2% | +1.7% | −1.5% |
| FY 2012 | $46,721 | +3.8% | +2.9% | +0.9% |
| FY 2011 | $44,990 | — | — | — |
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 Chief Publ Def
Paid more than 30% of the 10 people with this job title that year. The median was $205,440.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Public Defense Board Administrative Services Office | Public Defense Chief Publ Def Full-time | Hennepin | $96.00 /hr | — | $202,846 |
| 2025 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District | Public Defense Managing Attrny Full-time | Blue Earth | $72.84 /hr | — | $155,149 |
| 2024 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District | Public Defense Managing Attrny Full-time | Blue Earth | $72.84 /hr | — | $147,717 |
| 2023 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District | Public Defense Managing Attrny Full-time | Blue Earth | $54.26 /hr | — | $108,459 |
| 2022 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $38.83 /hr | — | $80,406 |
| 2021 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $36.26 /hr | — | $75,111 |
| 2020 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $33.68 /hr | — | $69,074 |
| 2019 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $31.44 /hr | — | $65,395 |
| 2018 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $31.44 /hr | — | $62,371 |
| 2017 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $28.92 /hr | — | $58,845 |
| 2016 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $27.19 /hr | — | $55,142 |
| 2015 | Public Defense Board Fifth Judicial District 1 | Public Defense Asst Attorney Full-time | Blue Earth | $25.37 /hr | — | $54,407 |
| 2014 | Trial Courts 5th Blue Earth Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Blue Earth | $22.28 /hr | — | $46,301 |
| 2013 | Trial Courts 5th Blue Earth Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Blue Earth | $21.63 /hr | — | $46,797 |
| 2012 | Trial Courts 5th Blue Earth Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Blue Earth | $21.63 /hr | — | $46,721 |
| 2011 | Trial Courts 5th Cottonwood Judge | Jud District Court Law Clerk Full-time | Cottonwood | $21.63 /hr | — | $44,990 |
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 Chief Publ Def
FY 2026, amount paid
- Middlebrook, Cathryn Y$227,525Public Defense Board
- Lew, Daniel K$221,146Public Defense Board
- Murphrey, Virginia$221,146Public Defense Board
- Riemer, John A$205,440Public Defense Board
- Siolka, Lindsay L$205,440Public Defense Board
- Sutherland, Layne$205,440Public Defense Board
- Kuehn, Anthony$201,120Public Defense Board
- Berger, Michael$199,680Public Defense Board