These Are Minnesota's 25 Highest-Paid State Employees

ST. PAUL, MN — The state's highest-paid employees are not politicians or agency heads, according to public payroll data from 2025. They are psychiatrists.

Several of the highest-paid state workers in Minnesota are psychiatrists, most employed through the Department of Human Services and tied to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, a secure treatment facility in Moose Lake.

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Topping the full list of state employees is Perry Mansco, executive director of the State Board of Investment, who earned $479,981.

Jill Schurtz, executive director of the Teachers Retirement Association, ranked second at $458,238. Devinder Malhotra, chancellor of Minnesota State, the system of state universities and colleges, ranked third at $418,391.

From there, the list is dominated by psychiatrists. Kyleeann Stevens, a Psychiatrist 5 with DHS, earned $392,267.

Eve Berryhill, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with DHS, earned $368,222, a figure matched by two Psychiatrist 4s, Soniya Hirachan and Maria Harmandayan.

John Frawley, director of the Minnesota Zoo, ranked eighth at $366,018. Six Psychiatrist 3s rounded out the top 14, each earning $353,496.

Here are the 25 highest-paid state employees in Minnesota for the most recent year available in the state's public payroll data:

Note: The classification numbers reflect board certification and sub-specialty credentials rather than seniority, with Psychiatrist 1 requiring board eligibility and each level above it adding fellowship training, sub-specialty certification, or administrative duties.

1. Perry Mansco, Exec Dir Investment Bd, $479,981
2. Jill Schurtz, Exec Dir Investment Bd, $458,238
3. Devinder Malhotra, Chancellor Mnscu, $418,391
4. Kyleeann Stevens, Psychiatrist 5, $392,267
5. Eve Berryhill, Child and Adole Psychiatrist, $368,222
6. Soniya Hirachan, Psychiatrist 4, $368,222
7. Maria Harmandayan, Psychiatrist 4, $368,222
8. John Frawley, Dir Zoological Gardens, $366,018
9. Christine Prato, Psychiatrist 3, $353,496
10. Joshua Griffiths, Psychiatrist 3, $353,496
11. Frederick Houts, Psychiatrist 3, $353,496
12. John Daniels, Psychiatrist 3, $353,496
13. Chinmoy Gulrajani, Psychiatrist 3, $353,496
14. Ahmed Shabeer, Psychiatrist 3, $353,496
15. Puneet Narang, Psychiatrist 3, $352,165
16. Frances Broghammer, Psychiatrist 2, $338,749
17. Matthew Kruse, Psychiatrist 2, $338,749
18. Ted Matzen, Psychiatrist 2, $338,749
19. Benjamin Otopalik, Psychiatrist 2, $338,749
20. Salima Naqvi, Psychiatrist 2, $338,749
21. David Mach, Psychiatrist 2, $338,749
22. Saif Mohsin, Psychiatrist 1, $324,022
23. Barbara Jackson, Psychiatrist 1, $324,022
24. Shane Wernsing, Psychiatrist 1, $324,022
25. Dionne Hart, Psychiatrist 1, $324,022

The figures reflect the most recently completed calendar year available in the state's public payroll disclosures. The dataset does not include the University of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Council or the Historical Society, which report compensation separately.