Minnesota / Veterans Affairs Department / Registered Nurse

Job-title file

Registered Nurse

Provide direct patient care — assess conditions, administer treatment and medication, and coordinate with physicians.

206 employees hold this title in Veterans Affairs Department. Median total compensation for the role is $75,329, above the department median of $55,734.

Employees: 206
Total payroll: $13.9M
Role median: $75,329
Agency median: $55,734
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$700$138,393+

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

How total compensation varies among the 206 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.

Compared with the local labor market

Registered Nurse pay vs. Minnesota

Across all employers in Minnesota, the median wage for Registered Nurses — about 70,110 people — is $101,510. Veterans Affairs Department pays a median base salary of $78,972 for this role, 22% below that figure — below the 10th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Veterans Affairs Department sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$79,960

$88,940

$101,510

$114,760

$132,430

Veterans Affairs Department median · $78,972

The bar is the range of annual wages for Registered Nurses across every employer in Minnesota, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Veterans Affairs Department’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Registered Nurses — about 3,379,720 people — is $97,550. Veterans Affairs Department’s median base salary is 19% below that national figure, about the 23rd percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$68,940

$80,330

$97,550

$112,350

$137,470

Veterans Affairs Department median · $78,972

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Minnesota range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 148 of 206 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Veterans Affairs Department is $75,329, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across Minnesota

Registered Nurse is held in 7 Minnesota departments. In Veterans Affairs Department, the median of $75,329 ranks #3 of 7.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Direct Care and Treatment Department

$104,085 · 342

Human Services Department

$88,277 · 403

Corrections Department

$50,740 · 59

MN St Colleges & Universities

$34,905 · 3

MN State Academies

$27,732 · 8

Perpich Center for Arts Education

$19,001 · 3

Median total compensation for the Registered Nurse role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Registered Nurse beyond Minnesota

This role is reported in 15 jurisdictions. In Minnesota, the median of $90,863 ranks #7 of 15. See Registered Nurse across all of Minnesota →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City and County of San Francisco

$256,713 · 1,911

$182,642 · 4,768

$150,727 · 15

$122,503 · 2,781

$115,950 · 906

$92,515 · 737

$75,245 · 437

$71,400 · 39

Median total compensation for comparable Registered Nurseroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Ciara Carty

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$28,171

Sub-department: MVH-Preston Nursing
Base pay: $22,876
Overtime: $3,933
Other pay: $1,362
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $28,171
Hire date: 2023-11-27
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.6
Work county: Fillmore

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Ciara Carty serves as a Registered Nurse within Mvh-Preston Nursing. They have served since 2023 (about a year), working part-time, 0.6 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $28,171. They are represented by MN Nurses Association.

Heidi Devorak

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$27,617

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Direct Care
Base pay: $27,617
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,617
Hire date: 2019-01-23
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.2
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Heidi Devorak works as a Registered Nurse for Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh Fergus Falls Direct Care. They have served since 2019 (about 6 years) as a part-time, 0.2 FTE employee. Heidi earned $27,617 in 2025. They are represented by Insufficient Work Time.

Kathryn Caunday

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$27,595

Sub-department: Mpls 19 Nurse Staff B
Base pay: $25,784
Overtime: $1,699
Other pay: $112
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,595
Hire date: 2025-02-19
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.6
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kathryn Caunday is a Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls 19 Nurse Staff B. Their tenure dates to 2025, under a year, working part-time, 0.6 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $27,595. Union affiliation: MN Nurses Association.

Autumn Buseman

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$27,427

Sub-department: MVH-Montevideo Nursing
Base pay: $25,192
Overtime: $1,296
Other pay: $938
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,427
Hire date: 2023-12-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 55
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Chippewa

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Autumn Buseman holds the role of Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Montevideo Nursing. They have served since 2023 (about a year) as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $27,427. They are represented by MN Nurses Association.

Wendy Melby

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$26,948

Sub-department: MVH-Luverne Direct Care
Base pay: $25,085
Overtime: $1,217
Other pay: $646
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $26,948
Hire date: 2021-12-08
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.1
Work county: Rock

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Wendy Melby is a Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Luverne Direct Care. They have served since 2021 (about 4 years), working intermittent, 0.1 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $26,948. Their bargaining unit is Insufficient Work Time.

Paula Barsness

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$26,803

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Direct Care
Base pay: $26,797
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $7
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $26,803
Hire date: 2016-01-20
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.2
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Paula Barsness serves as a Registered Nurse within Mvh Fergus Falls Direct Care. Their tenure dates to 2016, about 9 years, working part-time, 0.2 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $26,803. Union affiliation: Insufficient Work Time.

Christina Wilson

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$26,486

Sub-department: MVH-Preston Nursing
Base pay: $18,281
Overtime: $5,684
Other pay: $2,520
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $26,486
Hire date: 2005-06-02
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Fillmore

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Christina Wilson holds the role of Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Preston Nursing. Their tenure dates to 2005, about 20 years as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $26,486. Their bargaining unit is MN Nurses Association.

Carina Kaulu

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$26,345

Sub-department: Mpls 19 Nurse Staff A
Base pay: $25,983
Overtime: $349
Other pay: $13
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $26,345
Hire date: 2025-03-19
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Carina Kaulu serves as a Registered Nurse within Mpls 19 Nurse Staff A. Hired in 2025, they have under a year of service, working part-time, 0.8 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $26,345. Union affiliation: MN Nurses Association.

Angela Koep

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$25,144

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Direct Care
Base pay: $17,065
Overtime: $4,577
Other pay: $3,503
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $25,144
Hire date: 2021-05-26
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.1
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Angela Koep serves as a Registered Nurse within Mvh Fergus Falls Direct Care. They have served since 2021 (about 3 years), working intermittent, 0.1 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $25,144. Their bargaining unit is Insufficient Work Time.

Heather Tucke

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$25,100

Sub-department: MVH-Preston Nursing
Base pay: $23,315
Overtime: $1,309
Other pay: $476
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $25,100
Hire date: 2018-01-24
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Fillmore

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Heather Tucke works as a Registered Nurse for Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Preston Nursing. They have served since 2018 (about 7 years) as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. Heather earned $25,100 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Nurses Association.

Stephanie Pybas

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$24,971

Sub-department: MVH-Silver Bay Direct Care
Base pay: $23,152
Overtime: $1,492
Other pay: $327
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,971
Hire date: 2024-09-11
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.6
Work county: Lake

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Stephanie Pybas holds the role of Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Silver Bay Direct Care. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a part-time, 0.6 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $24,971. Union affiliation: MN Nurses Association.

Julie Lewandowski

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$24,959

Sub-department: MVH-Preston Nursing
Base pay: $10,177
Overtime: $12,460
Other pay: $2,323
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,959
Hire date: 2005-10-05
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Fillmore

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Julie Lewandowski holds the role of Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Preston Nursing. Their tenure dates to 2005, about 20 years as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $24,959. Their bargaining unit is MN Nurses Association.

Elizabeth Machart

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$24,896

Sub-department: MVH-Silver Bay Direct Care
Base pay: $24,511
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $385
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $24,896
Hire date: 2025-02-26
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.6
Work county: Lake

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Elizabeth Machart serves as a Registered Nurse within Mvh-Silver Bay Direct Care. Their tenure dates to 2025, under a year, working part-time, 0.6 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $24,896. They are represented by MN Nurses Association.

Debra Sather

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$23,064

Sub-department: MVH-Montevideo Nursing
Base pay: $15,903
Overtime: $2,226
Other pay: $4,935
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $23,064
Hire date: 2023-12-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.6
Work county: Chippewa

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Debra Sather holds the role of Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Montevideo Nursing. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years as a part-time, 0.6 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $23,064. Their bargaining unit is MN Nurses Association.

Kelly Johnson

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$22,698

Sub-department: MVH-Montevideo Nursing
Base pay: $20,791
Overtime: $944
Other pay: $963
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $22,698
Hire date: 2024-07-03
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.1
Work county: Chippewa

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kelly Johnson is a Registered Nurse at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Montevideo Nursing. They have served since 2024 (about a year), working intermittent, 0.1 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $22,698. Union affiliation: Insufficient Work Time.

Paige Parthun

Registered Nurse/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$21,451

Sub-department: MVH-Bemidji Nursing
Base pay: $14,146
Overtime: $4,914
Other pay: $2,392
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $21,451
Hire date: 2023-12-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 57
Union / bargaining unit: MN Nurses Association
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Beltrami

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 205
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Paige Parthun works as a Registered Nurse for Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Bemidji Nursing. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. Paige earned $21,451 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Nurses Association.