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 4

Logan Winch

Parks & Trails Associate/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,639

Sub-department: PAT-R4 Flandrau Staff 1
Base pay: $23,175
Overtime: $981
Other pay: $483
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,639
Hire date: 2024-05-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Brown

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Logan Winch is a Parks & Trails Associate at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R4 Flandrau Staff 1. They have served since 2024 (about a year), working part-time, 0.8 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $24,639. They are represented by Service.

Edward Carlson

Nr Specialist Fisheries/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$24,619

Sub-department: Fish-R3 Sauk Rapids Staff
Base pay: $24,619
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,619
Hire date: 2023-12-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 6
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Benton

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Edward Carlson works as a Nr Specialist Fisheries for Natural Resources Department within Fish-R3 Sauk Rapids Staff. Hired in 2023, they have about a year of service as a full-time employee. Edward earned $24,619 in 2024. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Nathan Pierce

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,603

Sub-department: PAT-R3 Father Hennepin Staff
Base pay: $23,870
Overtime: $733
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,603
Hire date: 2019-05-09
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Mille Lacs

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Nathan Pierce works as a Buildings & Grounds Worker for Natural Resources Department within Pat-R3 Father Hennepin Staff. Hired in 2019, they have about 6 years of service as a part-time, 0.9 FTE employee. Nathan earned $24,603 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Robert Moen

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,590

Sub-department: PAT-R4 Myre Big Island Staff
Base pay: $24,590
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,590
Hire date: 2015-04-27
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Freeborn

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Robert Moen holds the role of Buildings & Grounds Worker at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R4 Myre Big Island Staff. They have served since 2015 (about 10 years) as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $24,590. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Patrick Carver

Nr Technician/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$24,589

Sub-department: WL-R2BrainerdShallowLakesStaff
Base pay: $24,517
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $73
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,589
Hire date: 2022-05-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 61
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Pope

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Patrick Carver serves as a Nr Technician within Wl-R2Brainerdshallowlakesstaff. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 2 years, working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $24,589. Their bargaining unit is Technical.

Daniel Lewis

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,588

Sub-department: PAT-R2 Judge CR Magney Staff
Base pay: $23,860
Overtime: $728
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,588
Hire date: 2022-06-07
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Cook

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Daniel Lewis holds the role of Buildings & Grounds Worker at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R2 Judge Cr Magney Staff. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service as a part-time, 0.9 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $24,588. They are represented by Service.

Augusta Grumdahl

Interpret Naturalist 1/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,574

Sub-department: PAT-R1 Buffalo River Asst
Base pay: $24,108
Overtime: $350
Other pay: $116
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,574
Hire date: 2024-06-05
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Clay

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

Augusta Grumdahl is a Interpret Naturalist 1 at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R1 Buffalo River Assistant. They have served since 2024 (about a year), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $24,574. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Gerardo Armendarez

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$24,528

Sub-department: PAT-R1 Glendalough Staff
Base pay: $21,629
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,899
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,528
Hire date: 2015-05-27
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 56
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Gerardo Armendarez holds the role of Buildings & Grounds Worker at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R1 Glendalough Staff. Their tenure dates to 2015, about 9 years as a part-time, 0.9 FTE employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $24,528. They are represented by Service.

Anna Nelson

Parks & Trails Associate/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,445

Sub-department: PAT-R2 St Croix Staff 2
Base pay: $23,450
Overtime: $810
Other pay: $185
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,445
Hire date: 2024-04-03
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Pine

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Anna Nelson holds the role of Parks & Trails Associate at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R2 St Croix Staff 2. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service as a part-time, 0.9 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $24,445. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Kirk Hatlestad

Law Compliance Representative 1/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,434

Sub-department: ECO Waters R4 Watercraft Insp
Base pay: $23,408
Overtime: $1,026
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,434
Hire date: 2019-07-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 59
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Mcleod

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kirk Hatlestad works as a Law Compliance Representative 1 for Natural Resources Department within Eco Waters R4 Watercraft Inspector. Their tenure dates to 2019, about 6 years as a full-time employee. Kirk earned $24,434 in 2025. Union affiliation: Technical.

Kyle Talsma

Laborer Trades & Equipment/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,352

Sub-department: WL-R4 TalcotLake/Slayton Staff
Base pay: $23,981
Overtime: $209
Other pay: $162
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,352
Hire date: 2005-05-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 86
Union / bargaining unit: Craft, Maintenance, Labor
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Nobles

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 202
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kyle Talsma is a Laborer Trades & Equipment at Natural Resources Department within Wl-R4 Talcotlake/Slayton Staff. They have served since 2005 (about 20 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $24,352. Their bargaining unit is Craft, Maintenance, Labor.

Trae Davis

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,310

Sub-department: PAT-R4 Blue Mounds Staff 2
Base pay: $24,247
Overtime: $63
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,310
Hire date: 2022-03-16
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Rock

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Trae Davis serves as a Buildings & Grounds Worker within Pat-R4 Blue Mounds Staff 2. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years, working part-time, 0.9 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $24,310. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Frederick Harris

Research Scientist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,237

Sub-department: ECO Waters MBS Plant Eco&Bot
Base pay: $24,237
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,237
Hire date: 1992-04-22
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 14
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.25
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Frederick Harris holds the role of Research Scientist 2 at Natural Resources Department within Eco Waters Mbs Plant Eco&Bot. Their tenure dates to 1992, about 33 years as a part-time, 0.25 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $24,237. They are represented by Insufficient Work Time.

Joshua Cayetano

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,237

Sub-department: PAT-Rg 3 MN Valley Trail Staff
Base pay: $24,237
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,237
Hire date: 2023-04-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Scott

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Joshua Cayetano serves as a Buildings & Grounds Worker within Pat-Rg 3 MN Valley Trail Staff. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $24,237. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Sara Glessing

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,234

Sub-department: PAT-R1 Lake Carlos Asst Staff
Base pay: $22,904
Overtime: $903
Other pay: $428
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,234
Hire date: 2007-06-01
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Douglas

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sara Glessing works as a Buildings & Grounds Worker for Natural Resources Department within Pat-R1 Lake Carlos Assistant Staff. Hired in 2007, they have about 18 years of service as a part-time, 0.9 FTE employee. Sara earned $24,234 in 2025. They are represented by Service.

Amanda Thompson

Parks & Trails Associate/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,194

Sub-department: PAT-R1 Itasca Camping
Base pay: $20,732
Overtime: $1,392
Other pay: $2,070
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,194
Hire date: 2015-05-23
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Hubbard

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Amanda Thompson is a Parks & Trails Associate at Natural Resources Department within Pat-R1 Itasca Camping. They have served since 2015 (about 10 years), working part-time, 0.9 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $24,194. They are represented by Service.

Terry Spieker

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$24,156

Sub-department: PAT-R2 Judge CR Magney Staff
Base pay: $23,875
Overtime: $280
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,156
Hire date: 1973-10-03
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 56
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9
Work county: Cook

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Terry Spieker serves as a Buildings & Grounds Worker within Pat-R2 Judge Cr Magney Staff. Their tenure dates to 1973, about 51 years, working part-time, 0.9 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $24,156. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Brent Johnson

Buildings & Grounds Worker/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$24,153

Sub-department: PAT-R2 Scenic Staff 2
Base pay: $21,944
Overtime: $1,343
Other pay: $867
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,153
Hire date: 2024-04-29
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 60
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Itasca

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Brent Johnson works as a Buildings & Grounds Worker for Natural Resources Department within Pat-R2 Scenic Staff 2. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. Brent earned $24,153 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Service.