Minnesota / Public Defense Board / Public Defense Investigator

Job-title file

Public Defense Investigator

Inspect and investigate for compliance with regulations, document findings, and recommend action.

68 employees hold this title in Public Defense Board. Median total compensation for the role is $90,830, below the department median of $99,952.

Employees: 68
Total payroll: $6.3M
Role median: $90,830
Agency median: $99,952
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$36,405$114,600+

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

How total compensation varies among the 68 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.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Tara Olson

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$77,782

Sub-department: Third District FT
Base pay: $77,782
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,782
Hire date: 2016-08-10
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Olmsted

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Tara Olson is a Public Defense Investigator at Public Defense Board within Third District Ft. They have served since 2016 (about 8 years), working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $77,782. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense-Support Staff.

Penny Wickenheiser

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: Seventh District Detroit Lakes
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2024-05-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Stearns

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Penny Wickenheiser serves as a Public Defense Investigator within Seventh District Detroit Lakes. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,459. Union affiliation: Public Defense-Support Staff.

Caleb Munce

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: Second District
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2022-03-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Caleb Munce works as a Public Defense Investigator for Public Defense Board within Second District. They have served since 2022 (about 3 years) as a full-time employee. Caleb earned $77,459 in 2025. They are represented by Public Defense-Support Staff.

Timothy Schulz

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: Third Judical District
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2022-03-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Olmsted

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Timothy Schulz serves as a Public Defense Investigator within Third Judical District. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,459. They are represented by Public Defense-Support Staff.

Owen Knezel

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: J52D048 - Mgmt 3
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2022-06-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Owen Knezel holds the role of Public Defense Investigator at Public Defense Board within J52D048 - Management 3. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $77,459. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense-Support Staff.

Matthew Kolar

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: J52D048 - Mgmt 3
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2022-06-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Matthew Kolar is a Public Defense Investigator at Public Defense Board within J52D048 - Management 3. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 3 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $77,459. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense-Support Staff.

Dakota Horton

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: Third Judical District
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2022-02-16
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Olmsted

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Dakota Horton holds the role of Public Defense Investigator at Public Defense Board within Third Judical District. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $77,459. Union affiliation: Public Defense-Support Staff.

Maria Bloch

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: Seventh District
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2019-10-16
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Maria Bloch serves as a Public Defense Investigator within Seventh District. Their tenure dates to 2019, about 6 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,459. Union affiliation: Public Defense-Support Staff.

Daniel Bessette

Public Defense Investigator/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$77,459

Sub-department: Sixth Judicial District
Base pay: $77,459
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,459
Hire date: 2022-03-30
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 3
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: St Louis

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Daniel Bessette serves as a Public Defense Investigator within Sixth Judicial District. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,459. Union affiliation: Public Defense-Support Staff.