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The differences between assistant public defenders and assistant state attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assistant public defender and an assistant state attorney. Additionally, an assistant state attorney has an average salary of $82,255, which is higher than the $68,476 average annual salary of an assistant public defender.
The top three skills for an assistant public defender include appeals, litigation and legal research. The most important skills for an assistant state attorney are litigation, criminal cases, and appeals.
| Assistant Public Defender | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $68,476 | $82,255 |
| Hourly rate | $32.92 | $39.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 12,858 | 9,855 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Assistant Public Defender assists in the planning, administration, organization, and operation of the Public Defender's Office. They visit the crime scene to gather information and prepare case files.
An Assistant Staff Attorney performs a wide range of clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents, and procedures. They also communicate with clients to keep them informed on case progress.
Assistant public defenders and assistant state attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Public Defender | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average salary | $68,476 | $82,255 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $97,000 | Between $55,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rochester, NY | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Columbus Consolidated Government | State Attorney's Office |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between an assistant public defender and an assistant state attorney in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Public Defender | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between assistant public defenders' and assistant state attorneys' demographics:
| Assistant Public Defender | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.7% Female, 49.3% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |