Minnesota / Transportation Department

Agency file

Transportation Department

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

The Transportation Department plans, builds, and maintains transportation infrastructure — roads, bridges, transit, and motor-vehicle services.

In 2025, this agency had 6,009 employees with median total compensation of $74,811; the highest distinct record was $222,661.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $452.5M
Employees: 6,009
Median total: $74,811
Highest record: $222,661

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$169$151,286+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 6,009 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($74,811) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $72,071 (96%)
Overtime — $1,857 (2%)
Other — $1,369 (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

$22,141

$60,698

$74,811

$96,121

$116,640

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $116,640 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $22,141. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Transp Generalist

1,385 · $63,783

Transp Generalist Senior

529 · $70,954

Transp Specialist

367 · $78,937

Engineering Specialist

226 · $95,514

Engineer Princ

196 · $129,142

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	$411.3M —	5,582 —	$72,251 —
2025	$452.5M ▲ 10.0%	6,009 ▲ 7.6%	$74,811 ▲ 3.5%

Record list

Employees

Page 6

Douglas Nelson

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,502

Sub-department: Right of Way Metro
Base pay: $106,987
Overtime: $515
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,502
Hire date: 1999-10-13
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Douglas Nelson holds the role of Engineering Specialist Senior at Transportation Department within Right of Way Metro. Their tenure dates to 1999, about 26 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $107,502. Union affiliation: MN Govt Engineers Council.

Charles Jorgenson Jr

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,502

Sub-department: Land Management
Base pay: $107,502
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,502
Hire date: 1984-06-27
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Charles Jorgenson Jr works as a Engineering Specialist Senior for Transportation Department within Land Management. Their tenure dates to 1984, about 41 years as a full-time employee. Charles earned $107,502 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Govt Engineers Council.

Rick Vollan

Transp Operations Supervisor 3/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,498

Sub-department: Windom Shop
Base pay: $104,946
Overtime: $76
Other pay: $2,475
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,498
Hire date: 1997-05-14
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 18
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Cottonwood

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Transportation Department, Rick Vollan serves as a Transp Operations Supervisor 3 within Windom Shop. Their tenure dates to 1997, about 28 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $107,498. Their bargaining unit is Middle Management Association.

Anthony Chevalier

Landscape Architect Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,494

Sub-department: Design Support
Base pay: $107,494
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,494
Hire date: 2020-04-15
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: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Anthony Chevalier is a Landscape Architect Senior at Transportation Department within Design Support. Hired in 2020, they have about 5 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $107,494. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Christopher Rice

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,473

Sub-department: Railroads and Waterways
Base pay: $106,978
Overtime: $495
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,473
Hire date: 2007-03-07
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Christopher Rice works as a Engineering Specialist Senior for Transportation Department within Railroads and Waterways. Their tenure dates to 2007, about 18 years as a full-time employee. Christopher earned $107,473 in 2025. They are represented by MN Govt Engineers Council.

Jennifer Witt

Management Analyst Supervisor 3/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,468

Sub-department: Data Practices and Governance
Base pay: $104,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,526
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,468
Hire date: 2015-10-12
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 19
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: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jennifer Witt works as a Management Analyst Supervisor 3 for Transportation Department within Data Practices and Governance. Hired in 2015, they have about 10 years of service as a full-time employee. Jennifer earned $107,468 in 2025. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.

Mitchel Jordahl

Transp Specialist/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,467

Sub-department: Materials
Base pay: $78,582
Overtime: $28,579
Other pay: $306
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,467
Hire date: 1985-06-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 71
Union / bargaining unit: Technical
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 207
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Transportation Department, Mitchel Jordahl serves as a Transp Specialist within Materials. They have served since 1985 (about 40 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $107,467. Union affiliation: Technical.

Joseph Hudak

Hydrologist 3/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,458

Sub-department: Materials & Road Research
Base pay: $105,811
Overtime: $646
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,458
Hire date: 2006-03-28
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 16
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: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Joseph Hudak holds the role of Hydrologist 3 at Transportation Department within Materials & Road Research. Their tenure dates to 2006, about 19 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $107,458. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Eric Lauer-Hunt

Engineer Princ/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,455

Sub-department: Signs & Markings
Base pay: $106,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $515
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,455
Hire date: 2014-08-27
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Eric Lauer-Hunt works as a Engineer Princ for Transportation Department within Signs & Markings. They have served since 2014 (about 11 years) as a full-time employee. Eric earned $107,455 in 2025. They are represented by MN Govt Engineers Council.

Thomas Johnson-Kaiser

Transp Planning Manager/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,438

Sub-department: Cav-X
Base pay: $107,438
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,438
Hire date: 2018-01-16
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: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 220
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Thomas Johnson-Kaiser works as a Transp Planning Manager for Transportation Department within Cav-X. Hired in 2018, they have about 7 years of service as a full-time employee. Thomas earned $107,438 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Manager.

Timothy Zamzow

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,394

Sub-department: Project Management
Base pay: $106,982
Overtime: $412
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,394
Hire date: 2009-05-26
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Olmsted

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Timothy Zamzow is a Engineering Specialist Senior at Transportation Department within Project Management. They have served since 2009 (about 16 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $107,394. Their bargaining unit is MN Govt Engineers Council.

Robert Sneller

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,392

Sub-department: Windom Resident Office
Base pay: $106,980
Overtime: $412
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,392
Hire date: 2000-06-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Cottonwood

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Robert Sneller is a Engineering Specialist Senior at Transportation Department within Windom Resident Office. They have served since 2000 (about 25 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $107,392. Their bargaining unit is MN Govt Engineers Council.

Michael O'Rourke

Transp Operations Supervisor 2/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,388

Sub-department: Mapleton Subarea
Base pay: $97,190
Overtime: $6,567
Other pay: $3,631
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,388
Hire date: 2010-02-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 16
Union / bargaining unit: Middle Management Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 216
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Transportation Department, Michael O'Rourke serves as a Transp Operations Supervisor 2 within Mapleton Subarea. Hired in 2010, they have about 15 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $107,388. Union affiliation: Middle Management Association.

Walter Mclean

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,287

Sub-department: Building
Base pay: $106,978
Overtime: $309
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,287
Hire date: 2012-01-25
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Walter Mclean holds the role of Engineering Specialist Senior at Transportation Department within Building. Hired in 2012, they have about 13 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $107,287. They are represented by MN Govt Engineers Council.

Tera Rehnberg

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,278

Sub-department: Design Build 494
Base pay: $106,978
Overtime: $300
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,278
Hire date: 2002-07-31
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: -

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Tera Rehnberg is a Engineering Specialist Senior at Transportation Department within Design Build 494. They have served since 2002 (about 23 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $107,278. Union affiliation: MN Govt Engineers Council.

Chad Eklund

Engineering Specialist Senior/Transportation Department

2025 total comp

$107,232

Sub-department: East Operations Mgr
Base pay: $106,975
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $258
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $107,232
Hire date: 2015-07-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 8
Union / bargaining unit: MN Govt Engineers Council
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Beltrami

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: T79
Bargaining Unit Number: 212
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Transportation Department, Chad Eklund serves as a Engineering Specialist Senior within East Operations Manager. Their tenure dates to 2015, about 10 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $107,232. Their bargaining unit is MN Govt Engineers Council.