Minnesota / Minnesota Zoological Garden

Agency file

Minnesota Zoological Garden

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

The Minnesota Zoological Garden is a government agency that delivers public services and programs within its jurisdiction.

In 2025, this agency had 487 employees with median total compensation of $46,651; the highest distinct record was $405,933.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $21.6M
Employees: 487
Median total: $46,651
Highest record: $405,933

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$389$129,641+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 487 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($46,651) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $42,388 (96%)
Overtime — $1,212 (3%)
Other — $716 (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

$3,509

$7,460

$46,651

$69,092

$89,050

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $89,050 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $3,509. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Student Worker Clerical

78 · $4,293

Zoo Keeper

66 · $59,763

Interpret Naturalist 1

51 · $10,022

Customer Services Specialist

35 · $23,323

General Maintenance Worker

19 · $25,372

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	$19.6M —	500 —	$31,947 —
2025	$21.6M ▲ 10.1%	487 ▼ 2.6%	$46,651 ▲ 46.0%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Jason Frederick

Zoo Lead Laborer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$80,645

Sub-department: Campus & Fleet Operations
Base pay: $69,362
Overtime: $9,170
Other pay: $2,114
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,645
Hire date: 2003-10-13
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 90
Union / bargaining unit: Craft, Maintenance, Labor
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jason Frederick holds the role of Zoo Lead Laborer at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Campus & Fleet Operations. They have served since 2003 (about 22 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $80,645. Union affiliation: Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Dean Ramaeker

Plant Mntc Engineer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$80,517

Sub-department: Engineering
Base pay: $72,192
Overtime: $5,722
Other pay: $2,604
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,517
Hire date: 2024-07-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 95
Union / bargaining unit: Craft, Maintenance, Labor
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Dean Ramaeker is a Plant Mntc Engineer at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Engineering. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $80,517. Union affiliation: Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Lisa Northagen

Buyer 2/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$78,893

Sub-department: Financial Services
Base pay: $78,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,893
Hire date: 2005-11-14
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lisa Northagen works as a Buyer 2 for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Financial Services. Hired in 2005, they have about 20 years of service as a full-time employee. Lisa earned $78,893 in 2025. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Donald Crook

Interpret Naturalist 1/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$78,695

Sub-department: Ambassador Animals
Base pay: $61,703
Overtime: $1,543
Other pay: $15,449
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,695
Hire date: 2003-01-05
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Donald Crook holds the role of Interpret Naturalist 1 at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Ambassador Animals. They have served since 2003 (about 22 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $78,695. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Kayla Wallace

Assistant to Commr/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$77,662

Sub-department: Director's Office
Base pay: $77,662
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,662
Hire date: 2024-09-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 15
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Kayla Wallace serves as a Assistant to Commr within Director's Office. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,662. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Kimberly Quam

State Program Administrative Intermediate/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$77,357

Sub-department: Marketing
Base pay: $76,256
Overtime: $1,101
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,357
Hire date: 1997-05-14
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: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Kimberly Quam serves as a State Program Administrative Intermediate within Marketing. Their tenure dates to 1997, about 28 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,357. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Christopher Hartman

Electrician/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$77,225

Sub-department: Skilled Trades
Base pay: $73,749
Overtime: $3,188
Other pay: $287
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,225
Hire date: 2024-01-31
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 96
Union / bargaining unit: Craft, Maintenance, Labor
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Christopher Hartman works as a Electrician for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Skilled Trades. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year as a full-time employee. Christopher earned $77,225 in 2025. They are represented by Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Robert Korman Jr

Animal Health Specialist/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$77,206

Sub-department: Animal Health
Base pay: $75,359
Overtime: $1,847
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,206
Hire date: 2019-06-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 6
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Robert Korman Jr is a Animal Health Specialist at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Animal Health. Hired in 2019, they have about 6 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $77,206. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Trista Fischer

Zoologist/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$76,806

Sub-department: Northern Trail
Base pay: $76,245
Overtime: $558
Other pay: $3
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,806
Hire date: 2014-04-30
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: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Trista Fischer serves as a Zoologist within Northern Trail. Hired in 2014, they have about 11 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $76,806. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Brad Williams

Stationary Engineer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$76,669

Sub-department: Engineering
Base pay: $69,936
Overtime: $4,793
Other pay: $1,940
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,669
Hire date: 2018-01-19
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 95
Union / bargaining unit: Craft, Maintenance, Labor
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Brad Williams is a Stationary Engineer at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Engineering. They have served since 2018 (about 7 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $76,669. They are represented by Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Mary Schmidt

State Program Administrative Intermediate/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$76,557

Sub-department: Behavioral & Wellbeing
Base pay: $76,548
Overtime: $9
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,557
Hire date: 2012-03-07
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: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Mary Schmidt is a State Program Administrative Intermediate at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Behavioral & Wellbeing. They have served since 2012 (about 13 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $76,557. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Joel Schwichtenberg

Plant Mntc Engineer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$76,034

Sub-department: Engineering
Base pay: $39,991
Overtime: $2,257
Other pay: $33,787
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,034
Hire date: 1999-05-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 95
Union / bargaining unit: Craft, Maintenance, Labor
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Joel Schwichtenberg holds the role of Plant Mntc Engineer at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Engineering. Hired in 1999, they have about 26 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $76,034. They are represented by Craft, Maintenance, Labor.