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

Luke Mapes

Zoo Facilities Advisor/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$86,462

Sub-department: Planning,Construction&Exhibits
Base pay: $86,462
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,462
Hire date: 2016-04-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
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

Luke Mapes is a Zoo Facilities Advisor at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Planning,Construction&Exhibits. They have served since 2016 (about 9 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $86,462. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Andrew Mcchesney

Plant Mntc Engineer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$86,412

Sub-department: Engineering
Base pay: $78,729
Overtime: $7,217
Other pay: $466
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,412
Hire date: 2014-04-23
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

Andrew Mcchesney holds the role of Plant Mntc Engineer at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Engineering. Hired in 2014, they have about 11 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $86,412. They are represented by Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Peter Charlton

Plant Mntc Engineer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$86,393

Sub-department: Engineering
Base pay: $79,334
Overtime: $6,964
Other pay: $95
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,393
Hire date: 2017-03-20
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

Peter Charlton works as a Plant Mntc Engineer for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Engineering. They have served since 2017 (about 8 years) as a full-time employee. Peter earned $86,393 in 2025. Union affiliation: Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Lisa Fay

State Program Administrative Senior/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$86,138

Sub-department: Financial Services
Base pay: $84,783
Overtime: $1,355
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,138
Hire date: 2010-04-14
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

Lisa Fay works as a State Program Administrative Senior for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Financial Services. Their tenure dates to 2010, about 15 years as a full-time employee. Lisa earned $86,138 in 2025. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Trinity Leiser

Education Consultant 1/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$85,422

Sub-department: Education
Base pay: $84,912
Overtime: $491
Other pay: $20
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,422
Hire date: 2015-06-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
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, Trinity Leiser serves as a Education Consultant 1 within Education. They have served since 2015 (about 10 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $85,422. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Tyler Lundquist

Electrician Master Record/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$85,058

Sub-department: Skilled Trades
Base pay: $84,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $286
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,058
Hire date: 2017-06-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 97
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

Tyler Lundquist works as a Electrician Master Record for Minnesota Zoological Garden within Skilled Trades. Hired in 2017, they have about 8 years of service as a full-time employee. Tyler earned $85,058 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Joel Schwichtenberg

Stationary Engineer/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2024 total comp

$84,825

Sub-department: Engineering
Base pay: $75,033
Overtime: $4,525
Other pay: $5,266
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,825
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, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Joel Schwichtenberg serves as a Stationary Engineer within Engineering. They have served since 1999 (about 25 years), working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $84,825. Their bargaining unit is Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Nicole Mattson

Interpret Naturalist 3/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$84,781

Sub-department: Learning & Engagement
Base pay: $84,781
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,781
Hire date: 2016-07-20
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

Nicole Mattson is a Interpret Naturalist 3 at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Learning & Engagement. Their tenure dates to 2016, about 9 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $84,781. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Peter Wright

State Program Administrative Senior/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$84,779

Sub-department: Sales Box Office & Membership
Base pay: $84,779
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,779
Hire date: 2014-12-01
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

Peter Wright is a State Program Administrative Senior at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Sales Box Office & Membership. They have served since 2014 (about 11 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $84,779. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Joshua Moline

Zoo Life Support Operator/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$84,247

Sub-department: Aquatics
Base pay: $69,481
Overtime: $10,612
Other pay: $4,154
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,247
Hire date: 2017-08-23
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

Joshua Moline is a Zoo Life Support Operator at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Aquatics. They have served since 2017 (about 8 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $84,247. They are represented by Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Wendy Buser

Zoo Guest Services Supervisor/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$83,049

Sub-department: Guest Experience
Base pay: $81,693
Overtime: $900
Other pay: $455
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,049
Hire date: 2002-08-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 16
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
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: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Minnesota Zoological Garden, Wendy Buser serves as a Zoo Guest Services Supervisor within Guest Experience. Their tenure dates to 2002, about 23 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $83,049. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Jason Welvaert

Plumber/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$82,403

Sub-department: Skilled Trades
Base pay: $80,926
Overtime: $1,477
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,403
Hire date: 2022-08-17
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

Jason Welvaert is a Plumber at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Skilled Trades. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $82,403. Their bargaining unit is Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Alejandra Orozco Medina

State Program Administrative Principal/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$82,398

Sub-department: Learning & Engagement
Base pay: $82,398
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,398
Hire date: 2019-10-16
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
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

Alejandra Orozco Medina holds the role of State Program Administrative Principal at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Learning & Engagement. They have served since 2019 (about 6 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $82,398. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

James Pointer

Interpret Naturalist Supervisor 1/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$81,975

Sub-department: Education
Base pay: $80,113
Overtime: $1,862
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,975
Hire date: 2004-08-30
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
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: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

James Pointer is a Interpret Naturalist Supervisor 1 at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Education. They have served since 2004 (about 21 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $81,975. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.

Cynthia Robinson

Human Resources Specialist 2/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$81,757

Sub-department: Human Resources
Base pay: $81,757
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,757
Hire date: 2005-12-12
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 10
Union / bargaining unit: Confidential
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: 217
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Cynthia Robinson holds the role of Human Resources Specialist 2 at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Human Resources. Hired in 2005, they have about 20 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $81,757. Their bargaining unit is Confidential.

Jason Thorson

Heavy Equipment Mechanic/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$81,610

Sub-department: Campus & Fleet Operations
Base pay: $79,766
Overtime: $1,843
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,610
Hire date: 2019-03-28
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

Jason Thorson is a Heavy Equipment Mechanic at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Campus & Fleet Operations. They have served since 2019 (about 6 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $81,610. Union affiliation: Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Cori Roberts

Management Analyst 3/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2025 total comp

$81,287

Sub-department: Sales Box Office & Membership
Base pay: $81,287
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,287
Hire date: 2022-08-12
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: -

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, Cori Roberts serves as a Management Analyst 3 within Sales Box Office & Membership. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $81,287. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Gina Goralski

Interpret Naturalist 2/Minnesota Zoological Garden

2024 total comp

$81,232

Sub-department: Education
Base pay: $81,229
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,232
Hire date: 1992-04-29
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, 2024: No
Agency Number: E77
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Gina Goralski holds the role of Interpret Naturalist 2 at Minnesota Zoological Garden within Education. They have served since 1992 (about 32 years) as a full-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $81,232. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.