Minnesota / Commerce Department / State Program Administrative Director

Job-title file

State Program Administrative Director

Lead staff and operations — set priorities, allocate resources, and oversee program delivery.

8 employees hold this title in Commerce Department. Median total compensation for the role is $111,260, above the department median of $84,542.

Employees: 8
Total payroll: $857.1K
Role median: $111,260
Agency median: $84,542
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$83,693$115,305+

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

How total compensation varies among the 8 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compare departments

This role across Minnesota

State Program Administrative Director is held in 32 Minnesota departments. In Commerce Department, the median of $111,260 ranks #12 of 32.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Peace Officers Board - Post

$144,327 · 1

Secretary of State

$136,461 · 1

Lottery

$126,689 · 2

Animal Health Board

$116,564 · 1

Pollution Control Agency

$113,569 · 4

Direct Care and Treatment Department

$112,504 · 53

Labor & Industry Department

$112,504 · 19

MN St Colleges & Universities

$112,504 · 3

Mnsure

$112,504 · 1

Public Utilities Community

$112,504 · 1

Natural Resources Department

$112,503 · 40

Office of Higher Education

$110,317 · 1

Median total compensation for the State Program Administrative Director role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Candace Gergen

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$115,761

Sub-department: Ins Regulation & Policy
Base pay: $112,053
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,708
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,761
Hire date: 2014-02-12
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Commerce Department, Candace Gergen serves as a State Program Administrative Director within Ins Regulation & Policy. Their tenure dates to 2014, about 11 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $115,761. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Scott Halvorson

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$112,504

Sub-department: Consumer & Industry Services
Base pay: $112,504
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,504
Hire date: 2012-02-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Scott Halvorson holds the role of State Program Administrative Director at Commerce Department within Consumer & Industry Services. They have served since 2012 (about 13 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $112,504. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Melissa Knoepfler

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$112,504

Sub-department: FE Non Depository Institutions
Base pay: $112,504
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,504
Hire date: 2010-08-16
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Commerce Department, Melissa Knoepfler serves as a State Program Administrative Director within Fe Non Depository Institutions. They have served since 2010 (about 15 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $112,504. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Peter Bratsch

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$112,504

Sub-department: Consumer & Industry Services
Base pay: $112,504
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,504
Hire date: 1993-12-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Peter Bratsch works as a State Program Administrative Director for Commerce Department within Consumer & Industry Services. Hired in 1993, they have about 32 years of service as a full-time employee. Peter earned $112,504 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Geoffrey Spray

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$110,017

Sub-department: FI Securities Supervision
Base pay: $109,017
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,017
Hire date: 2008-10-13
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Geoffrey Spray is a State Program Administrative Director at Commerce Department within Fi Securities Supervision. Hired in 2008, they have about 17 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $110,017. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Emily Kelnberger

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$106,195

Sub-department: Legal Services
Base pay: $106,195
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,195
Hire date: 2012-01-10
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Emily Kelnberger holds the role of State Program Administrative Director at Commerce Department within Legal Services. Their tenure dates to 2012, about 13 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $106,195. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.

Brett Benson

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2024 total comp

$103,885

Sub-department: Ins Regulation & Policy
Base pay: $103,842
Overtime: $43
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,885
Hire date: 2022-05-31
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
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: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Commerce Department, Brett Benson serves as a State Program Administrative Director within Ins Regulation & Policy. They have served since 2022 (about 2 years), working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $103,885. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Scott Hawks

State Program Administrative Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$83,693

Sub-department: Admin Services Director
Base pay: $83,693
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,693
Hire date: 2003-02-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 21
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Scott Hawks is a State Program Administrative Director at Commerce Department within Administrative Services Director. Their tenure dates to 2003, about 22 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $83,693. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.