Minnesota / MN State Academies / Special Education Program Assistant

Job-title file

Special Education Program Assistant

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

95 employees hold this title in MN State Academies. Median total compensation for the role is $38,763, below the department median of $46,488.

Employees: 95
Total payroll: $3.1M
Role median: $38,763
Agency median: $46,488
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$702$56,768+

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

How total compensation varies among the 95 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

Special Education Program Assistant is held in 4 Minnesota departments. In MN State Academies, the median of $38,763 ranks #2 of 4.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Direct Care and Treatment Department

$63,226 · 1

Human Services Department

$20,459 · 1

Perpich Center for Arts Education

$13,493 · 3

Median total compensation for the Special Education Program Assistant 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

Amanda Melchert

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$53,323

Sub-department: MSAD SEPAs
Base pay: $52,573
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $750
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,323
Hire date: 2005-11-28
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Health Care Non Professional
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.88
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 204
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Amanda Melchert works as a Special Education Program Assistant for MN State Academies within Msad Sepas. They have served since 2005 (about 20 years) as a part-time, 0.88 FTE employee. Amanda earned $53,323 in 2025. They are represented by Health Care Non Professional.

Judy Ferguson

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$53,292

Sub-department: MSAB Special Ed Prog Asst
Base pay: $52,690
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $602
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,292
Hire date: 1991-05-15
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Health Care Non Professional
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.88
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 204
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Judy Ferguson holds the role of Special Education Program Assistant at MN State Academies within Msab Special Education Program Assistant. They have served since 1991 (about 34 years) as a part-time, 0.88 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $53,292. They are represented by Health Care Non Professional.

Meryl Caddy

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$53,039

Sub-department: MSAD SEPAs
Base pay: $52,139
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $900
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,039
Hire date: 1999-03-15
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Health Care Non Professional
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.88
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 204
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At MN State Academies, Meryl Caddy serves as a Special Education Program Assistant within Msad Sepas. Hired in 1999, they have about 26 years of service, working part-time, 0.88 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $53,039. They are represented by Health Care Non Professional.

Michelle Clark-Palmer

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$52,473

Sub-department: MSAB Intermittent Staff
Base pay: $38,863
Overtime: $7,694
Other pay: $5,917
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,473
Hire date: 2013-10-01
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.01
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Michelle Clark-Palmer is a Special Education Program Assistant at MN State Academies within Msab Intermittent Staff. Hired in 2013, they have about 12 years of service, working intermittent, 0.01 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $52,473. Their bargaining unit is Insufficient Work Time.

Kristi Keath

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$52,461

Sub-department: MSAD SEPAs
Base pay: $51,343
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,118
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,461
Hire date: 2000-01-31
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Health Care Non Professional
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.88
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 204
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kristi Keath is a Special Education Program Assistant at MN State Academies within Msad Sepas. Hired in 2000, they have about 25 years of service, working part-time, 0.88 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $52,461. They are represented by Health Care Non Professional.

Nancy Markeson-Evenstad

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$51,866

Sub-department: MSAB Special Ed Prog Asst
Base pay: $51,623
Overtime: $217
Other pay: $25
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $51,866
Hire date: 1981-07-23
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Health Care Non Professional
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.88
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 204
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Nancy Markeson-Evenstad works as a Special Education Program Assistant for MN State Academies within Msab Special Education Program Assistant. They have served since 1981 (about 44 years) as a part-time, 0.88 FTE employee. Nancy earned $51,866 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Health Care Non Professional.

Barbara Katzung

Special Education Program Assistant/MN State Academies

2025 total comp

$51,176

Sub-department: MSAB Special Ed Prog Asst
Base pay: $51,130
Overtime: $46
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $51,176
Hire date: 1994-08-29
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 65
Union / bargaining unit: Health Care Non Professional
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.88
Work county: Rice

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: E44
Bargaining Unit Number: 204
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Barbara Katzung holds the role of Special Education Program Assistant at MN State Academies within Msab Special Education Program Assistant. Their tenure dates to 1994, about 31 years as a part-time, 0.88 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $51,176. Their bargaining unit is Health Care Non Professional.