Minnesota / MN St Colleges & Universities / Communications Specialist 1

Job-title file

Communications Specialist 1

Coordinate and deliver a specific program area, supporting planning, outreach, and daily operations.

5 employees hold this title in MN St Colleges & Universities. Median total compensation for the role is $64,451, above the department median of $62,587.

Employees: 5
Total payroll: $322.1K
Role median: $64,451
Agency median: $62,587
Comparison: Above

Compare departments

This role across Minnesota

Communications Specialist 1 is held in 18 Minnesota departments. In MN St Colleges & Universities, the median of $64,451 ranks #5 of 18.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Transportation Department

$78,893 · 1

Lottery

$75,102 · 7

Human Rights Department

$68,018 · 1

Revenue Department

$66,563 · 3

Education Department

$63,819 · 1

Natural Resources Department

$62,921 · 3

Minnesota Zoological Garden

$60,725 · 1

Employ & Economic Development Department

$60,173 · 1

Pollution Control Agency

$59,477 · 1

Public Employees Retire Associate

$58,113 · 2

Human Services Department

$31,765 · 1

Gambling Control Board

$31,541 · 1

Median total compensation for the Communications Specialist 1 role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Communications Specialist beyond Minnesota

This role is reported in 11 jurisdictions. In Minnesota, the median of $84,381 ranks #4 of 11. See Communications Specialist across all of Minnesota →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City and County of San Francisco

$199,185 · 19

City of Las Vegas

$103,803 · 93

District of Columbia

$103,510 · 10

Louisville Metro, Kentucky

$52,783 · 7

South Carolina

$50,825 · 23

Johnson County, Kansas

$45,515 · 10

New York Public Authorities

$44,581 · 9

Georgia

$43,591 · 7

Median total compensation for comparable Communications Specialist roles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Same department

Other job titles in MN St Colleges & Universities

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Janet Meier

Communications Specialist 1/MN St Colleges & Universities

2025 total comp

$74,416

Sub-department: MnSCU Rdgwtr Hutch TC Prof/Sup
Base pay: $74,416
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,416
Hire date: 1999-12-01
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: Mcleod

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E26
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At MN St Colleges & Universities, Janet Meier serves as a Communications Specialist 1 within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Rdgwtr Hutch Tc Prof/Sup. They have served since 1999 (about 26 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $74,416. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Danae Swanson

Communications Specialist 1/MN St Colleges & Universities

2025 total comp

$73,163

Sub-department: MnSCU STC Coll Social Science
Base pay: $73,163
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,163
Hire date: 2017-08-21
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: Stearns

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E26
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Danae Swanson is a Communications Specialist 1 at MN St Colleges & Universities within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Stc Coll Social Science. Hired in 2017, they have about 8 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $73,163. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Alexis Ajayi

Communications Specialist 1/MN St Colleges & Universities

2025 total comp

$64,451

Sub-department: MnSCU MAN Classified O-Z
Base pay: $63,451
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $64,451
Hire date: 2020-06-15
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: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E26
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Alexis Ajayi holds the role of Communications Specialist 1 at MN St Colleges & Universities within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Man Classified O-Z. Hired in 2020, they have about 5 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $64,451. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Katherine Yapp

Communications Specialist 1/MN St Colleges & Universities

2025 total comp

$61,942

Sub-department: MNSCU OOC Classified A - E
Base pay: $61,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,942
Hire date: 2024-05-29
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: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E26
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Katherine Yapp works as a Communications Specialist 1 for MN St Colleges & Universities within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Ooc Classified a - E. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service as a full-time employee. Katherine earned $61,942 in 2025. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Katherine Donaghue

Communications Specialist 1/MN St Colleges & Universities

2025 total comp

$48,145

Sub-department: MnSCU Rdgwtr Willmar TC Class
Base pay: $48,144
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $48,145
Hire date: 2024-08-13
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: Kandiyohi

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E26
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Katherine Donaghue works as a Communications Specialist 1 for MN St Colleges & Universities within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Rdgwtr Willmar Tc Class. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year as a full-time employee. Katherine earned $48,145 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.