Minnesota / Natural Resources Department

Agency file

Natural Resources Department

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

The Natural Resources Department protects natural resources and the environment — conservation, parks and wildlife, and environmental regulation.

In 2025, this agency had 3,514 employees with median total compensation of $66,596; the highest distinct record was $240,971.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $226.7M
Employees: 3,514
Median total: $66,596
Highest record: $240,971

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$13$144,593+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 3,514 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($66,596) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $60,301 (93%)
Overtime — $2,673 (4%)
Other — $1,533 (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

$7,694

$27,483

$66,596

$95,167

$115,594

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $115,594 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $7,694. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Buildings & Grounds Worker

260 · $17,987

Parks & Trails Associate

198 · $14,362

Nr Specialist 2 Co

150 · $116,115

Laborer Trades & Equipment

90 · $46,497

Office & Administrative Specialist Int

82 · $51,468

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	$201.6M —	3,353 —	$62,927 —
2025	$226.7M ▲ 12.4%	3,514 ▲ 4.8%	$66,596 ▲ 5.8%

Record list

Employees

Page 2

Daniel Lais

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$132,761

Sub-department: EcoWaters Region 3
Base pay: $129,641
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,121
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,761
Hire date: 1989-07-19
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Daniel Lais works as a State Program Administrative Manager Senior for Natural Resources Department within Ecowaters Region 3. Hired in 1989, they have about 36 years of service as a full-time employee. Daniel earned $132,761 in 2025. Union affiliation: Manager.

Richard Byers

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$132,761

Sub-department: OSD OMB Business Services
Base pay: $129,641
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,121
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,761
Hire date: 2006-05-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Richard Byers holds the role of State Program Administrative Manager Senior at Natural Resources Department within Osd Omb Business Services. They have served since 2006 (about 19 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $132,761. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Patrick Schmalz

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$132,761

Sub-department: F&W Fisheries Mgt
Base pay: $129,641
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,121
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,761
Hire date: 2007-03-05
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Patrick Schmalz serves as a State Program Administrative Manager Senior within F&W Fisheries Management. Hired in 2007, they have about 18 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $132,761. They are represented by Manager.

Donald Jaschke

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$132,761

Sub-department: OSD Region 1 Manager
Base pay: $129,641
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,121
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,761
Hire date: 1994-05-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Donald Jaschke works as a State Program Administrative Manager Senior for Natural Resources Department within Osd Region 1 Manager. Their tenure dates to 1994, about 31 years as a full-time employee. Donald earned $132,761 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Jean Dolensek

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$132,761

Sub-department: OSD Region 2 Manager
Base pay: $129,641
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,121
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,761
Hire date: 1994-03-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Itasca

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Jean Dolensek serves as a State Program Administrative Manager Senior within Osd Region 2 Manager. They have served since 1994 (about 31 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $132,761. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Stan Linnell

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$132,750

Sub-department: OSD MR Facilities
Base pay: $129,630
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,121
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,750
Hire date: 1984-08-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
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: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Stan Linnell serves as a State Program Administrative Manager Senior within Osd Mr Facilities. They have served since 1984 (about 41 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $132,750. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Michael Martin

Nr District Supervisor - Enforcement/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$132,592

Sub-department: Enforcement-Reg 1
Base pay: $119,184
Overtime: $8,595
Other pay: $4,813
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,592
Hire date: 2007-02-07
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 31
Union / bargaining unit: LELS U18 Lic Pce Officer Specl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: -

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 228
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Michael Martin is a Nr District Supervisor - Enforcement at Natural Resources Department within Enforcement-Reg 1. They have served since 2007 (about 17 years), working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $132,592. They are represented by LELS U18 Lic Pce Officer Specl.