Best states for an assistant public defender

Q: What is the best state for assistant public defenders?

The best state to be an assistant public defender is California based on assistant public defender salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for assistant public defenders?

The highest paying state for assistant public defenders is Maine based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for assistant public defenders?

The worst state for assistant public defenders is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for assistant public defenders in the United States. Assistant public defender positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for assistant public defenders.In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for assistant public defenders in America. The best city in America for assistant public defenders with the highest pay is Rochester, NY.

California is the best state for jobs for assistant public defenders, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in California is $95,637, while the median pay in Arkansas is $38,892.California is the best state, and Monterey is the city with the highest pay for assistant public defenders.

10 best states for assistant public defenders in 2025

1. California
Total assistant public defender jobs: 624
Average annual salary: $95,637
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Assistant public defender jobs in California
2. Alaska
Total assistant public defender jobs: 16
Average annual salary: $86,286
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Assistant public defender jobs in Alaska
3. District of Columbia
Total assistant public defender jobs: 118
Average annual salary: $81,422
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
4.99
Assistant public defender jobs in District of Columbia
4. New York
Total assistant public defender jobs: 286
Average annual salary: $76,063
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1.58
Assistant public defender jobs in New York
5. Nevada
Total assistant public defender jobs: 37
Average annual salary: $72,144
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Assistant public defender jobs in Nevada
6. Oregon
Total assistant public defender jobs: 63
Average annual salary: $74,501
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Assistant public defender jobs in Oregon
7. Georgia
Total assistant public defender jobs: 207
Average annual salary: $66,449
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.42
Assistant public defender jobs in Georgia
8. Virginia
Total assistant public defender jobs: 183
Average annual salary: $69,648
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Assistant public defender jobs in Virginia
9. Washington
Total assistant public defender jobs: 81
Average annual salary: $72,015
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
0.79
Assistant public defender jobs in Washington
10. Arizona
Total assistant public defender jobs: 55
Average annual salary: $68,658
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
0.67
Assistant public defender jobs in Arizona

Assistant public defender jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an assistant public defender

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an assistant public defender

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$95,637	$59,000	39,536,653	624
2	Alaska	$86,286	$59,000	739,795	16
3	District of Columbia	$81,422	$51,000	693,972	118
4	New York	$76,063	$47,000	19,849,399	286
5	Nevada	$72,144	$45,000	2,998,039	37
6	Oregon	$74,501	$48,000	4,142,776	63
7	Georgia	$66,449	$42,000	10,429,379	207
8	Virginia	$69,648	$44,000	8,470,020	183
9	Washington	$72,015	$47,000	7,405,743	81
10	Arizona	$68,658	$43,000	7,016,270	55
11	Colorado	$66,540	$45,000	5,607,154	92
12	Illinois	$65,168	$43,000	12,802,023	165
13	Massachusetts	$64,322	$39,000	6,859,819	144
14	Tennessee	$65,613	$42,000	6,715,984	44
15	Michigan	$63,316	$41,000	9,962,311	86
16	Utah	$63,418	$43,000	3,101,833	36
17	New Jersey	$63,745	$40,000	9,005,644	120
18	Delaware	$61,765	$39,000	961,939	15
19	Maryland	$65,346	$41,000	6,052,177	73
20	Connecticut	$61,997	$38,000	3,588,184	40
21	Ohio	$59,566	$39,000	11,658,609	97
22	Florida	$58,202	$36,000	20,984,400	278
23	Rhode Island	$57,163	$35,000	1,059,639	29
24	Texas	$58,296	$36,000	28,304,596	238
25	North Carolina	$57,096	$36,000	10,273,419	145
26	Louisiana	$58,840	$36,000	4,684,333	26
27	Alabama	$57,612	$36,000	4,874,747	34
28	Wyoming	$52,458	$36,000	579,315	20
29	Iowa	$58,898	$40,000	3,145,711	14
30	West Virginia	$57,854	$37,000	1,815,857	7
31	Vermont	$55,805	$34,000	623,657	12
32	Montana	$50,526	$36,000	1,050,493	37
33	Indiana	$54,441	$36,000	6,666,818	38
34	Nebraska	$54,975	$37,000	1,920,076	14
35	Hawaii	$63,196	$51,000	1,427,538	6
36	Idaho	$53,887	$36,000	1,716,943	15
37	Pennsylvania	$53,334	$33,000	12,805,537	114
38	Wisconsin	$52,364	$35,000	5,795,483	63
39	North Dakota	$53,781	$38,000	755,393	2
40	Minnesota	$52,869	$36,000	5,576,606	67
41	South Carolina	$50,480	$32,000	5,024,369	57
42	Kansas	$53,073	$35,000	2,913,123	20
43	Oklahoma	$48,863	$32,000	3,930,864	54
44	Missouri	$50,108	$33,000	6,113,532	63
45	New Mexico	$51,588	$33,000	2,088,070	9
46	Kentucky	$50,250	$33,000	4,454,189	24
47	South Dakota	$50,786	$35,000	869,666	4
48	Maine	$33,171	$20,000	1,335,907	18
49	Mississippi	$49,993	$31,000	2,984,100	8
50	New Hampshire	$49,261	$30,000	1,342,795	8
51	Arkansas	$38,892	$25,000	3,004,279	18

Highest paying states for assistant public defenders

Rank	State	Avg. Assistant Public Defender Salary
1	California	$95,637
2	Alaska	$86,286
3	District of Columbia	$81,422
4	New York	$76,063
5	Nevada	$72,144
6	Oregon	$74,501
7	Georgia	$66,449
8	Virginia	$69,648
9	Washington	$72,015
10	Arizona	$68,658
11	Colorado	$66,540
12	Illinois	$65,168
13	Massachusetts	$64,322
14	Tennessee	$65,613
15	Michigan	$63,316
16	Utah	$63,418
17	New Jersey	$63,745
18	Delaware	$61,765
19	Maryland	$65,346
20	Connecticut	$61,997
21	Ohio	$59,566
22	Florida	$58,202
23	Rhode Island	$57,163
24	Texas	$58,296
25	North Carolina	$57,096
26	Louisiana	$58,840
27	Alabama	$57,612
28	Wyoming	$52,458
29	Iowa	$58,898
30	West Virginia	$57,854
31	Vermont	$55,805
32	Montana	$50,526
33	Indiana	$54,441
34	Nebraska	$54,975
35	Hawaii	$63,196
36	Idaho	$53,887
37	Pennsylvania	$53,334
38	Wisconsin	$52,364
39	North Dakota	$53,781
40	Minnesota	$52,869
41	South Carolina	$50,480
42	Kansas	$53,073
43	Oklahoma	$48,863
44	Missouri	$50,108
45	New Mexico	$51,588
46	Kentucky	$50,250
47	South Dakota	$50,786
48	Maine	$33,171
49	Mississippi	$49,993
50	New Hampshire	$49,261
51	Arkansas	$38,892

Assistant public defender best states FAQs

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What is the worst state for assistant public defenders?

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Best states for Assistant Public Defenders

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total assistant public defender jobs:	624
Average annual salary:	$95,637
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$154,000
Location Quotient:	1.52

Best states for an assistant public defender

10 best states for assistant public defenders in 2025

1. California

2. Alaska

3. District of Columbia

4. New York

5. Nevada

6. Oregon

7. Georgia

8. Virginia

9. Washington

10. Arizona