Minnesota / Agriculture Department

Agency file

Agriculture Department

Source file: Minnesota — State Employee Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Agriculture Department supports agriculture — farming, food safety, livestock, and rural development programs.

In 2025, this agency had 611 employees with median total compensation of $80,497; the highest distinct record was $178,228.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $44.2M
Employees: 611
Median total: $80,497
Highest record: $178,228

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$262$144,327+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 611 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($80,497) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $70,980 (98%)
Overtime — $268 (0%)
Other — $1,155 (2%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$7,399

$55,828

$80,497

$97,734

$110,939

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $110,939 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $7,399. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Agricultural Technician

55 · $4,693

State Program Administrative Principal

40 · $92,505

Agricultural Advisor

39 · $83,785

Agricultural Consultant

36 · $97,736

State Program Administrative Senior

26 · $84,522

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2024	$40.5M —	561 —	$78,246 —
2025	$44.2M ▲ 9.1%	611 ▲ 8.9%	$80,497 ▲ 2.9%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Benjamin Hughey

Seed Analyst/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$18,246

Sub-department: Plant Analysis Unit Staff
Base pay: $18,246
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $18,246
Hire date: 2025-02-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 61
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Benjamin Hughey works as a Seed Analyst for Agriculture Department within Plant Analysis Unit Staff. They have served since 2025 (under a year) as a full-time employee. Benjamin earned $18,246 in 2025. Union affiliation: Technical.

Lowell Swanson

Plant Industry Inspector 1/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$17,442

Sub-department: Potato Inspection Staff
Base pay: $13,601
Overtime: $170
Other pay: $3,671
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $17,442
Hire date: 2021-09-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 61
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Polk

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lowell Swanson works as a Plant Industry Inspector 1 for Agriculture Department within Potato Inspection Staff. Hired in 2021, they have about 4 years of service as a full-time employee. Lowell earned $17,442 in 2025. They are represented by Technical.

Mary Novak

Agricultural Technician/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$17,423

Sub-department: Mitigation&RegulatoryResponStf
Base pay: $17,156
Overtime: $267
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $17,423
Hire date: 2011-06-14
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.72
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Mary Novak holds the role of Agricultural Technician at Agriculture Department within Mitigation&Regulatoryresponstf. Hired in 2011, they have about 14 years of service as a intermittent, 0.72 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $17,423. They are represented by Service.

Jessica Jurcek

Proj Specialist/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$16,754

Sub-department: Conservation Program Unit Staf
Base pay: $16,754
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $16,754
Hire date: 2021-09-15
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.15
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jessica Jurcek works as a Proj Specialist for Agriculture Department within Conservation Program Unit Staf. They have served since 2021 (about 4 years) as a part-time, 0.15 FTE employee. Jessica earned $16,754 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Insufficient Work Time.

Lisa Hensel

Dairy Inspection Supervisor/Agriculture Department

2024 total comp

$15,731

Sub-department: Dairy Inspection West Supv
Base pay: $15,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $15,731
Hire date: 2013-09-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 19
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lisa Hensel is a Dairy Inspection Supervisor at Agriculture Department within Dairy Inspection West Supervisor. Hired in 2013, they have about 11 years of service, working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $15,731. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Jacob Elfmann

Agricultural Specialist/Agriculture Department

2024 total comp

$15,168

Sub-department: Retail Food Safety B Staff
Base pay: $15,012
Overtime: $85
Other pay: $71
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $15,168
Hire date: 2022-12-07
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jacob Elfmann works as a Agricultural Specialist for Agriculture Department within Retail Food Safety B Staff. Hired in 2022, they have about 2 years of service as a full-time employee. Jacob earned $15,168 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Eidan Silver

State Program Administrative Intermediate/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$14,525

Sub-department: Pest Detection &MgmtUnitStaff
Base pay: $13,955
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $571
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,525
Hire date: 2023-02-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Eidan Silver is a State Program Administrative Intermediate at Agriculture Department within Pest Detection &Mgmtunitstaff. They have served since 2023 (about 2 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $14,525. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Samuel Bernicklangworthy

Plant Industry Inspector 1/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$14,447

Sub-department: Pest Detection &MgmtUnitStaff
Base pay: $13,318
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,130
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,447
Hire date: 2022-05-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 64
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Samuel Bernicklangworthy is a Plant Industry Inspector 1 at Agriculture Department within Pest Detection &Mgmtunitstaff. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $14,447. Union affiliation: Technical.

John Paulson

Office Specialist/Agriculture Department

2024 total comp

$14,304

Sub-department: Central Svcs Acct Staff
Base pay: $5,637
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $8,666
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,304
Hire date: 2011-08-31
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 56
Union / bargaining unit: Clerical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 206
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

John Paulson holds the role of Office Specialist at Agriculture Department within Central Services Accountant Staff. They have served since 2011 (about 13 years) as a part-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $14,304. Their bargaining unit is Clerical.

Jack Gute

Agricultural Specialist/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$14,162

Sub-department: Enforcement Unit Staff
Base pay: $14,162
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,162
Hire date: 2025-03-12
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jack Gute works as a Agricultural Specialist for Agriculture Department within Enforcement Unit Staff. They have served since 2025 (under a year) as a full-time employee. Jack earned $14,162 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Lilian Sugimura

Student Worker Paraprofessional Professional/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$13,897

Sub-department: AMDD Director Staff
Base pay: $13,718
Overtime: $72
Other pay: $108
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $13,897
Hire date: 2023-12-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 53
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.38
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Agriculture Department, Lilian Sugimura serves as a Student Worker Paraprofessional Professional within Amdd Director Staff. Hired in 2023, they have about 2 years of service, working part-time, 0.38 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $13,897. They are represented by Technical.

David Parrish

Agricultural Technician/Agriculture Department

2024 total comp

$13,878

Sub-department: Mitigation&RegulatoryResponStf
Base pay: $13,693
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $185
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $13,878
Hire date: 2022-05-12
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 54
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.56
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

David Parrish works as a Agricultural Technician for Agriculture Department within Mitigation&Regulatoryresponstf. They have served since 2022 (about 2 years) as a intermittent, 0.56 FTE employee. David earned $13,878 in 2024. Union affiliation: Insufficient Work Time.

Jason Bradley

Agricultural Technician/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$13,212

Sub-department: Mitigation&RegulatoryResponStf
Base pay: $13,212
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $13,212
Hire date: 2006-06-28
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.72
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jason Bradley holds the role of Agricultural Technician at Agriculture Department within Mitigation&Regulatoryresponstf. Their tenure dates to 2006, about 19 years as a intermittent, 0.72 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $13,212. They are represented by Insufficient Work Time.

Yvonne Moore

State Program Administrative Senior/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$12,957

Sub-department: Local Food PA Staff
Base pay: $12,957
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $12,957
Hire date: 2004-12-29
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 10
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Agriculture Department, Yvonne Moore serves as a State Program Administrative Senior within Local Food PA Staff. Their tenure dates to 2004, about 21 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $12,957. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Scott Plewka

Laboratory Scientist 1/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$12,768

Sub-department: Chemistry/Toxicology Staff
Base pay: $12,768
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $12,768
Hire date: 2025-04-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Scott Plewka works as a Laboratory Scientist 1 for Agriculture Department within Chemistry/Toxicology Staff. Hired in 2025, they have under a year of service as a full-time employee. Scott earned $12,768 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Emma Walytka

Student Worker Paraprofessional Professional/Agriculture Department

2025 total comp

$12,608

Sub-department: Communications Staff
Base pay: $11,702
Overtime: $906
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $12,608
Hire date: 2024-05-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 53
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B04
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Emma Walytka is a Student Worker Paraprofessional Professional at Agriculture Department within Communications Staff. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $12,608. Their bargaining unit is Technical.