Minnesota / Natural Resources Department / Communications Specialist 2

Job-title file

Communications Specialist 2

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

18 employees hold this title in Natural Resources Department. Median total compensation for the role is $83,006, above the department median of $66,596.

Employees: 18
Total payroll: $1.4M
Role median: $83,006
Agency median: $66,596
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$33,258$88,021+

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

How total compensation varies among the 18 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

Communications Specialist 2 is held in 26 Minnesota departments. In Natural Resources Department, the median of $83,006 ranks #9 of 26.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Veterans Affairs Department

$91,966 · 2

Secretary of State

$87,888 · 1

Labor & Industry Department

$87,877 · 3

Minnesota IT Services

$87,473 · 4

Animal Health Board

$86,154 · 2

Transportation Department

$84,567 · 3

Health Department

$83,903 · 18

Lottery

$83,764 · 4

Employ & Econ Development Department

$82,723 · 3

Pollution Control Agency

$82,531 · 3

Disability Council

$80,366 · 1

MN St Colleges & Universities

$78,163 · 5

Median total compensation for the Communications Specialist 2 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 Specialistroles 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.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Kristi Coughlon

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$88,079

Sub-department: OSD OCO R1 Officer
Base pay: $87,508
Overtime: $571
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,079
Hire date: 2011-06-20
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Beltrami

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Kristi Coughlon serves as a Communications Specialist 2 within Osd Oco R1 Officer. They have served since 2011 (about 14 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $88,079. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Thomas Klein

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$87,909

Sub-department: ECO Waters County Bio Surveys
Base pay: $87,846
Overtime: $63
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,909
Hire date: 1989-04-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Thomas Klein works as a Communications Specialist 2 for Natural Resources Department within Eco Waters County Bio Surveys. Hired in 1989, they have about 36 years of service as a full-time employee. Thomas earned $87,909 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Deborah Locke

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$87,888

Sub-department: PAT-CO-Public Relations
Base pay: $87,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,888
Hire date: 2016-08-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Deborah Locke holds the role of Communications Specialist 2 at Natural Resources Department within Pat-Co-Public Relations. Hired in 2016, they have about 9 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $87,888. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Julie Forster

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$87,888

Sub-department: OSD OCO Volunteer Magazine
Base pay: $87,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,888
Hire date: 2012-11-19
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Julie Forster is a Communications Specialist 2 at Natural Resources Department within Osd Oco Volunteer Magazine. Hired in 2012, they have about 13 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $87,888. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Peter Takash

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$87,888

Sub-department: F&W Public Relations
Base pay: $87,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,888
Hire date: 2007-09-05
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Peter Takash works as a Communications Specialist 2 for Natural Resources Department within F&W Public Relations. Hired in 2007, they have about 18 years of service as a full-time employee. Peter earned $87,888 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Lynn Phelps

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$87,888

Sub-department: OSD OCO Volunteer Magazine
Base pay: $87,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,888
Hire date: 2006-10-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lynn Phelps works as a Communications Specialist 2 for Natural Resources Department within Osd Oco Volunteer Magazine. Hired in 2006, they have about 19 years of service as a full-time employee. Lynn earned $87,888 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Lori Naumann

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$87,888

Sub-department: Wildlife Engagement Department
Base pay: $87,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,888
Hire date: 1987-02-23
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Lori Naumann serves as a Communications Specialist 2 within Wildlife Engagement Department. They have served since 1987 (about 38 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $87,888. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Robert Boos

Communications Specialist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$85,773

Sub-department: ECOWaters Comm & Planning Svcs
Base pay: $85,773
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,773
Hire date: 2015-07-20
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 11
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: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Robert Boos serves as a Communications Specialist 2 within Ecowaters Community & Planning Services. Hired in 2015, they have about 10 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $85,773. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.