Minnesota · 2025 pay
How much do Trial Courts (Minnesota) employees make?
$61,916typical pay, counting everyone paid in 2025
$46,132 – $82,862what most people earned
Includes everyone paid during 2025, including part-year and seasonal workers. The source doesn't show who worked the full year.
Minnesota Management and Budget publishes pay by position without employee names, so there is no name search here.
Common jobs: Jud Court Operations AssociateJud District Court Law ClerkJud District Court Judge
✓ Official data from Minnesota Management and BudgetMatches the agency's latest releasemn.gov ↗
How is pay spread across workers?
A year of pay for a lower-paid, typical and higher-paid worker (counting everyone paid), and the top earner, split into regular pay, overtime and extra pay.
$46,107
$62,270
$83,018
$211,699
Lower-paid workerearns more than 1 in 4 coworkers
Typical workerright in the middle
Higher-paid workerearns more than 3 in 4 coworkers
Highest paidone person
Regular payOvertimeExtra pay
Is pay going up?
Yes. Typical pay went from $48,889 in 2016 to $61,916 in 2025 (+27%).
What changed since 2024
- +5.6%Typical pay went up from $58,656 to $61,916.
- +6.5%Typical raise for the 2,678 people paid in both 2024 and 2025. About 26% got a raise of 10% or more.
- 429 new429 people were paid for the first time in 2025, and 444 people paid in 2024 were no longer on the payroll.
- +27%Since 2016, typical pay has gone from $48,889 to $61,916, while the number of people paid went up from 2,682 to 3,107.
The next update is expected after the fiscal year closes (usually by August).
Pay slip · 2025
A typical worker's year
Trial Courts (Minnesota)
official data
2016–2025
| Regular pay | $61,388 |
|---|---|
| Overtime | $178 |
| Extra pay | $705 |
| Total for the year | $62,270 |
Average of the 156 workers in the middle of the pay range. Does not include benefits.
Matches the agency's latest release
Worth knowing about pay at Trial Courts
What stands out in the payroll data, checked against the rest of our data before it is shown.
- +6.5%
People paid by Trial Courts in both 2024 and 2025 saw their pay change by a typical +6.5%.
Usual among the 10 other state agencies in Minnesota in our data: +8.0%.
Compares the same people in both years, so new hires and leavers do not move it. Overtime and hours worked count too.
- +49%
Since 2016, total pay at Trial Courts went up 49% while the number of people paid went up 16%.
Counts everyone paid during each year. Not adjusted for inflation.
Pay by job
Jobs held by 5 or more people in 2025.
| Job | People | Typical pay | Most earn | Since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jud Court Operations Associate | 1,005 | $47,550 | $36k – $54k | ▲ 5.5% |
| Jud District Court Law Clerk | 427 | $61,903 | $38k – $73k | ▲ 11.6% |
| Jud District Court Judge | 283 | $190,117 | $190k – $190k | ▲ 4.0% |
| Jud Court Reporter Steno | 152 | $84,682 | $72k – $88k | ▲ 2.8% |
| Jud Court Operation Supervisor | 149 | $82,000 | $78k – $88k | ▲ 7.5% |
| Jud Court Reporter Elect | 108 | $69,076 | $62k – $75k | ▲ 5.3% |
| Jud Dist Court Senior Judge | 100 | $14,578 | $6k – $31k | ▲ 34.1% |
| Jud Court Operations Specialist | 94 | $57,276 | $52k – $62k | ▲ 6.6% |
| Jud Ct Operations Leadworker I | 77 | $58,244 | $53k – $74k | ▲ 4.9% |
| Jud Ct Operation Leadworker II | 54 | $66,243 | $62k – $76k | ▲ 5.9% |
| Jud Court Operations Clerk | 41 | $44,974 | $22k – $48k | ▲ 13.4% |
| Jud Court Reporter | 30 | $66,534 | $62k – $73k | ▲ 5.5% |
| Jud Treatment Courts Coordinator | 28 | $72,373 | $60k – $76k | ▲ 6.3% |
| Jud Court Operations Manager | 27 | $106,868 | $101k – $113k | ▲ 6.5% |
| Jud Referee | 23 | $170,234 | $170k – $170k | ▲ 4.1% |
| Jud Senior Clinic Forensic Psych | 21 | $136,857 | $127k – $147k | ▲ 5.1% |
| Jud Admin Hearing Officer | 21 | $80,966 | $78k – $97k | ▲ 9.8% |
| Judicial Business Process Spe | 20 | $80,055 | $78k – $95k | ▲ 3.0% |
| Jud Judicial Clerk | 20 | $65,908 | $61k – $67k | ▲ 7.3% |
| Jud Law Clerk 1 | 18 | $7,597 | $2k – $10k | ▲ 82.1% |
| Jud Human Resources Generalist | 15 | $91,127 | $80k – $97k | ▲ 9.4% |
| Jud Court Interpreter | 15 | $71,285 | $67k – $80k | ▲ 7.0% |
| Jud Accounting Specialist | 14 | $66,638 | $62k – $75k | new |
| Jud Senior Shc Specialist | 13 | $84,593 | $75k – $91k | ▲ 25.3% |
| Jud Human Resources Coordin | 12 | $68,594 | $68k – $72k | ▲ 1.9% |
| Jud Office Assistant III | 12 | $60,776 | $55k – $66k | ▲ 3.0% |
| Jud Court Admin Manager I | 11 | $108,876 | $104k – $119k | ▲ 9.9% |
| Jud Court Administrator I | 11 | $96,671 | $93k – $104k | ▲ 6.9% |
| Jud Inform Technician Specialist II | 11 | $80,877 | $75k – $84k | ▲ 15.5% |
| Jud Staff Generalist I | 11 | $57,119 | $50k – $61k | ▲ 19.5% |
| Jud Court of Appeals Senior Jdge | 11 | $43,464 | $27k – $60k | ▼ 7.5% |
| Jud District Court Chief Judge | 10 | $199,622 | $190k – $200k | ▲ 4.0% |
| Jud Assistant Chief Judge | 10 | $190,117 | $190k – $190k | ▲ 4.0% |
| Jud Multi Cnty Court Admin III | 10 | $106,615 | $97k – $119k | ▲ 7.3% |
| Jud Ct Bus Systems Coordinator | 10 | $73,357 | $64k – $77k | ▲ 6.0% |
| Jud Court Administrator III | 9 | $114,399 | $106k – $116k | ▲ 10.0% |
| Jud Trial Court Staff Attorney | 9 | $101,678 | $100k – $105k | ▲ 3.9% |
| Jud Inform Technician Specialist III | 9 | $99,395 | $96k – $102k | ▲ 6.4% |
| Jud Self-Help Center Specialist | 9 | $67,321 | $62k – $72k | ▲ 6.7% |
| Jud Court Admin Manager II | 8 | $147,126 | $142k – $152k | ▲ 6.2% |
| Jud Human Resources Manager I | 8 | $128,371 | $126k – $137k | ▲ 7.6% |
| Jud Accounting Manager | 8 | $108,604 | $106k – $110k | new |
| Jud Staff Generalist II | 8 | $90,499 | $89k – $99k | ▲ 8.6% |
| Jud Scheduling Specialist | 7 | $50,207 | $49k – $53k | ▲ 2.4% |
| Jud District Administrator B | 6 | $198,843 | $178k – $204k | ▲ 5.6% |
| Jud Deputy District Admin a | 6 | $141,296 | $137k – $151k | ▲ 3.9% |
| Jud Calendar Coordinator | 6 | $76,504 | $73k – $81k | ▲ 11.9% |
| Jud Train and Develop Specialist | 6 | $72,341 | $71k – $81k | ▲ 2.5% |
| Jud Accountant I | 6 | $71,833 | $62k – $80k | new |
| Jud Judge Unit Paralegal | 6 | $58,846 | $26k – $65k | new |
| Jud Calendar Clerk | 6 | $38,292 | $18k – $67k | ▼ 32.1% |
| Jud Court Administrator IV | 5 | $146,347 | $145k – $151k | ▲ 7.4% |
| Jud Multi Cnty Court Admin II | 5 | $101,334 | $93k – $108k | ▼ 0.4% |
| Jud Intern | 5 | $1,662 | $2k – $2k | new |
No jobs match.
How many people earn what
- Under $10k188
- $10k – $30k282
- $30k – $50k574
- $50k – $70k770
- $70k – $90k705
- $90k – $110k154
- $110k – $150k108
- $150k or more326
Includes part-time and seasonal workers, which is why many earn under $10k.
Pay by department
| Department | People | Typical pay |
|---|---|---|
| Trial Court Judges | 303 | $190,117 |
| 4th Hennepin Judge | 171 | $64,979 |
| Retired Judges | 113 | $16,096 |
| 10th District - Anoka | 96 | $48,489 |
| 1st Dakota | 93 | $54,154 |
| 2nd Ramsey Judge | 70 | $66,351 |
| 4th District Criminal | 56 | $48,475 |
| 10th District Staff | 53 | $84,526 |
| 1st Dakota Judge | 51 | $66,522 |
| 10th District - Washington | 49 | $51,930 |
| 3rd Case Processing | 45 | $54,754 |
| 7th District Stearns | 44 | $46,262 |
Highest paid at Trial Courts in 2025
- 1Sarah R Lindahl-PfiefferJud District Administrator B$211,699▲ $9,429 vs 2024
- 2Sara Germain GonsalvesJud District Administrator C$204,569▲ $13,632 vs 2024
- 3Michelle R EllefsonJud District Administrator B$203,647▲ $13,567 vs 2024
- 4Erin Elizabeth Lindhart FeltenJud Referee$200,953▲ $37,444 vs 2024
- 5Brian E JonesJud District Administrator B$199,760▲ $13,308 vs 2024
- 6Joseph A BueltelJud District Court Judge$199,623▲ $7,679 vs 2024
- 7Gregory J AndersonJud District Court Judge$199,623▲ $7,679 vs 2024
- 8Jana Marie AustadJud District Court Chief Judge$199,623▲ $7,679 vs 2024
- 9Leslie Elizabeth BeiersJud District Court Chief Judge$199,623▲ $7,679 vs 2024
- 10Stephanie Lynn BeckmanJud District Court Chief Judge$199,623▲ $7,679 vs 2024
Common questions
How much does a Trial Courts (Minnesota) employee make?
The typical employee was paid $61,916 in 2025: half of the 3,107 people paid earned more, half earned less. Most earned between $46,132 and $82,862.
Why do so many people earn very little?
The list includes everyone who got a paycheck during the year: part-time, seasonal and short-term workers, and people who joined or left partway through. 188 people (6.1%) were paid under $10,000.
Does this include benefits like health insurance or pension?
No. It is the pay people received: regular salary or wages (99.0% of all pay), overtime (0.1%) and extra pay such as allowances, longevity and severance (0.9%).
Where does this data come from, and when is it updated?
From Minnesota Management and Budget (mn.gov). Our figures match the agency's latest release; the next update is expected after the fiscal year closes (usually by August).
"Typical pay" is the median: half earn more, half earn less. "Most earn" is the middle half of workers. Figures are calculated by PublicPayData from the official dataset; 0 records with $0 or negative pay are left out. How we calculate this · Corrections & removals