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 5

Nicholas Borchardt

Research Scientist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,894

Sub-department: L&M Mineral Potential
Base pay: $90,894
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,894
Hire date: 2014-04-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
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

Nicholas Borchardt works as a Research Scientist 2 for Natural Resources Department within L&M Mineral Potential. Hired in 2014, they have about 11 years of service as a full-time employee. Nicholas earned $90,894 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Isaiah Tolo

Bacteriologist Supervisor 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,811

Sub-department: F&W Program-Fisheries
Base pay: $90,811
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,811
Hire date: 2021-05-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 20
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
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: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Isaiah Tolo serves as a Bacteriologist Supervisor 2 within F&W Program-Fisheries. They have served since 2021 (about 4 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,811. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.

Robert Rabasco

Nr Program Coordinator/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,794

Sub-department: F&W Contract Specialists
Base pay: $90,733
Overtime: $61
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,794
Hire date: 2002-10-23
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Crow Wing

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

Robert Rabasco is a Nr Program Coordinator at Natural Resources Department within F&W Contract Specialists. Their tenure dates to 2002, about 23 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $90,794. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Daniel Olds

State Program Administrative Principal/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,765

Sub-department: FOR Protection Air Ops Staff
Base pay: $77,069
Overtime: $5,254
Other pay: $8,442
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,765
Hire date: 1995-03-27
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
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: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Daniel Olds serves as a State Program Administrative Principal within For Protection Air Operations Staff. Hired in 1995, they have about 30 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,765. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

John Lauer

State Program Administrative Manager Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,756

Sub-department: Fish-R4
Base pay: $27,788
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $62,969
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,756
Hire date: 1985-05-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
Union / bargaining unit: Manager
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Brown

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

John Lauer works as a State Program Administrative Manager Senior for Natural Resources Department within Fish-R4. They have served since 1985 (about 40 years) as a full-time employee. John earned $90,756 in 2025. Union affiliation: Manager.

Joseph Blake

Nr Forestry Specialist Int/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,668

Sub-department: FOR R2 Deer River Asst Staff
Base pay: $70,148
Overtime: $16,209
Other pay: $4,311
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,668
Hire date: 2015-08-12
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: Itasca

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

Joseph Blake works as a Nr Forestry Specialist Int for Natural Resources Department within For R2 Deer River Assistant Staff. Hired in 2015, they have about 10 years of service as a full-time employee. Joseph earned $90,668 in 2025. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Holly Johnson

Research Analysis Specialist Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,667

Sub-department: ECO Waters Groundwater Atlas
Base pay: $90,667
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,667
Hire date: 2013-10-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
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, Holly Johnson serves as a Research Analysis Specialist Senior within Eco Waters Groundwater Atlas. Hired in 2013, they have about 12 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,667. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Grace Loppnow

Planning Director State/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,667

Sub-department: ECO Waters Invasive Species
Base pay: $90,535
Overtime: $131
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,667
Hire date: 2021-08-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 18
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, Grace Loppnow serves as a Planning Director State within Eco Waters Invasive Species. Their tenure dates to 2021, about 4 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,667. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Laura Duffey

Education Consultant 1/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,660

Sub-department: FOR Leg Affairs & Outreach
Base pay: $90,660
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,660
Hire date: 1992-06-30
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
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

Laura Duffey works as a Education Consultant 1 for Natural Resources Department within For Leg Affairs & Outreach. They have served since 1992 (about 33 years) as a full-time employee. Laura earned $90,660 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Keylor Andrews

Nr Program Coordinator/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$90,597

Sub-department: ECO Waters Rare Resources
Base pay: $90,597
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,597
Hire date: 2010-05-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
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, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Keylor Andrews serves as a Nr Program Coordinator within Eco Waters Rare Resources. They have served since 2010 (about 14 years), working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $90,597. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Jonathan Hansen

Nr Program Consultant/Natural Resources Department

2024 total comp

$90,597

Sub-department: F&W Program-Fisheries
Base pay: $90,597
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,597
Hire date: 2016-02-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
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, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jonathan Hansen works as a Nr Program Consultant for Natural Resources Department within F&W Program-Fisheries. They have served since 2016 (about 8 years) as a full-time employee. Jonathan earned $90,597 in 2024. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Benjamin West

Nr Forestry Supervisor/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,593

Sub-department: FOR R2 Little Fork
Base pay: $87,847
Overtime: $1,046
Other pay: $1,700
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,593
Hire date: 2013-05-20
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 20
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Koochiching

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: R29
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Benjamin West works as a Nr Forestry Supervisor for Natural Resources Department within For R2 Little Fork. Hired in 2013, they have about 12 years of service as a full-time employee. Benjamin earned $90,593 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Nicole Tefft

Human Resources Consultant 1/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,554

Sub-department: OSD HR ES Staffing
Base pay: $90,554
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,554
Hire date: 2017-02-21
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 16
Union / bargaining unit: Confidential
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: 217
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Nicole Tefft works as a Human Resources Consultant 1 for Natural Resources Department within Osd HR Es Staffing. They have served since 2017 (about 8 years) as a full-time employee. Nicole earned $90,554 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Confidential.

Elizabeth Scherber

Nr Program Consultant/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,534

Sub-department: Reg Ops-Region 3 Staff
Base pay: $90,534
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,534
Hire date: 2017-11-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 17
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, Elizabeth Scherber serves as a Nr Program Consultant within Reg Ops-Region 3 Staff. Their tenure dates to 2017, about 8 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,534. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Valerie Mcclannahan

Nr Forestry Program Supervisor/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,461

Sub-department: For Cfm
Base pay: $88,719
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,742
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,461
Hire date: 2016-02-29
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 18
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
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: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Natural Resources Department, Valerie Mcclannahan serves as a Nr Forestry Program Supervisor within For Cfm. Hired in 2016, they have about 9 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,461. They are represented by Middle Management Association.

Donna Edelman

Accounting Officer Senior/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,446

Sub-department: FOR Admn Bus Mgt
Base pay: $68,792
Overtime: $20,252
Other pay: $1,402
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,446
Hire date: 1994-06-14
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, Donna Edelman serves as a Accounting Officer Senior within For Admn Bus Management. They have served since 1994 (about 31 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,446. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Megan Fitzpatrick

Research Scientist 2/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,427

Sub-department: WL-R1 Res Bemidji Staff
Base pay: $90,413
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $14
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,427
Hire date: 2019-04-24
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
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

Megan Fitzpatrick is a Research Scientist 2 at Natural Resources Department within Wl-R1 Res Bemidji Staff. They have served since 2019 (about 6 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $90,427. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Brent Beste

Planner Principal State/Natural Resources Department

2025 total comp

$90,427

Sub-department: ECO Waters Water&AqPlantPermit
Base pay: $90,427
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,427
Hire date: 2015-02-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 14
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, Brent Beste serves as a Planner Principal State within Eco Waters Water&Aqplantpermit. They have served since 2015 (about 10 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $90,427. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.