Minnesota / Commerce Department

Agency file

Commerce Department

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

The Commerce Department regulates industry and protects consumers — licensing, oversight, and enforcement of standards.

In 2025, this agency had 474 employees with median total compensation of $84,542; the highest distinct record was $232,253.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $39.8M
Employees: 474
Median total: $84,542
Highest record: $232,253

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$117$174,262+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 474 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($84,542) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $82,849 (99%)
Overtime — $64 (0%)
Other — $1,037 (1%)
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

$35,619

$65,054

$84,542

$103,779

$120,895

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $120,895 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $35,619. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

State Program Administrative Principal

37 · $90,630

Commerce Analyst 3

22 · $91,025

State Program Administrative Intermediate

22 · $75,440

State Program Administrative Senior

20 · $84,622

Financial Inst Examiner Senior

19 · $102,356

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	$34.2M —	413 —	$81,364 —
2025	$39.8M ▲ 16.2%	474 ▲ 14.8%	$84,542 ▲ 3.9%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Sarah Gillaspey

Staff Attorney 3/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$130,347

Sub-department: Legal Services
Base pay: $130,347
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $130,347
Hire date: 2011-12-19
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 22
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: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sarah Gillaspey is a Staff Attorney 3 at Commerce Department within Legal Services. They have served since 2011 (about 14 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $130,347. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Timothy Henderson

Financial Inst Examnt Program Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$127,543

Sub-department: FE Banking
Base pay: $125,133
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,410
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $127,543
Hire date: 2010-10-13
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 24
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

Timothy Henderson is a Financial Inst Examnt Program Director at Commerce Department within Fe Banking. Hired in 2010, they have about 15 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $127,543. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Kathleen Orth

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Commerce Department

2024 total comp

$127,005

Sub-department: Ins Deputy
Base pay: $124,019
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,986
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $127,005
Hire date: 1988-05-25
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: B13
Bargaining Unit Number: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kathleen Orth is a State Program Administrative Manager Senior at Commerce Department within Ins Deputy. They have served since 1988 (about 36 years), working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $127,005. Union affiliation: Manager.

Joel Fischer

State Program Administrative Manager/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$125,641

Sub-department: Admin Mgmt
Base pay: $120,895
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,746
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,641
Hire date: 1994-09-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 15
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Joel Fischer is a State Program Administrative Manager at Commerce Department within Administrative Management. Their tenure dates to 1994, about 31 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $125,641. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Sarah Adam

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$125,593

Sub-department: Admin Administration
Base pay: $125,593
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,593
Hire date: 2018-04-18
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sarah Adam holds the role of State Program Administrative Manager Senior at Commerce Department within Administrative Administration. Their tenure dates to 2018, about 7 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $125,593. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Brett Willhite

Weights & Measures Division Direct/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$125,375

Sub-department: Admin Mgmt
Base pay: $121,990
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,385
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,375
Hire date: 2014-10-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 20
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Brett Willhite is a Weights & Measures Division Direct at Commerce Department within Administrative Management. They have served since 2014 (about 11 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $125,375. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

William Thompson

Financial Inst Examnt Program Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$125,133

Sub-department: FE Non Depository Institutions
Base pay: $125,133
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,133
Hire date: 2011-05-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 24
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, William Thompson serves as a Financial Inst Examnt Program Director within Fe Non Depository Institutions. Their tenure dates to 2011, about 14 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $125,133. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

James Filiyaro

Financial Inst Examnt Program Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$125,133

Sub-department: FE Banking
Base pay: $125,133
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,133
Hire date: 1993-07-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 24
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, James Filiyaro serves as a Financial Inst Examnt Program Director within Fe Banking. Hired in 1993, they have about 32 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $125,133. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Michael Carter

Audit Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$124,288

Sub-department: Enf Deputy
Base pay: $121,483
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,805
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,288
Hire date: 2016-03-21
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 23
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

Michael Carter is a Audit Director at Commerce Department within Enf Deputy. Their tenure dates to 2016, about 9 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $124,288. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.

Barbara Carey

Audit Director/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$123,805

Sub-department: Ins Fin Exams
Base pay: $120,895
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,910
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,805
Hire date: 2016-11-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 23
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, Barbara Carey serves as a Audit Director within Ins Finance Exams. Their tenure dates to 2016, about 9 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $123,805. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Kari Moeller

Administrative Planning Director St/Commerce Department

2025 total comp

$123,805

Sub-department: Development Section
Base pay: $120,895
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,910
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,805
Hire date: 2013-07-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 23
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

Kari Moeller holds the role of Administrative Planning Director St at Commerce Department within Development Section. Their tenure dates to 2013, about 12 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $123,805. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.