How To Become A Deputy Prosecuting Attorney: What It Is and Career Path

What is a deputy prosecuting attorney and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Kimberly Dasse

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a deputy prosecuting attorney. For example, did you know that they make an average of $37.23 an hour? That's $77,440 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 80,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a deputy prosecuting attorney?

Kimberly Dasse

Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota

The concept of a legal career encompasses a wide array of roles, extending beyond the traditional associate-partner trajectory. I therefore recommend that law students plan early. While still in school, seek out internships or externships that afford opportunities to explore diverse roles, such as placements at non-profits, district attorney’s offices, public defender’s offices, and law firms. This type of exposure will help students to determine what roles align best with their personal circumstances, identity, and aspirations. Once a course is set, pursue that path with determination. As practitioners, they should strive to excel by applying their academic knowledge and life experiences to their work. Pose thoughtful questions that reflect genuine engagement and consideration for the work. Cultivate mentoring relationships with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance in navigating legal practice and office dynamics. The above steps are particularly important for first-generation professionals. As new entrants to the profession, one may not have a built-in or pre-existing network, so building connections early in law school can yield significant benefits later when transitioning into the profession.

ScoreDeputy Prosecuting AttorneyUS Average

Salary

6.0

Avg. Salary $77,440

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.41%

Black or African American 5.59%

Hispanic or Latino 7.81%

Unknown 4.38%

White 75.50%

Gender

female 42.53%

male 57.47%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a deputy prosecuting attorney

Explore deputy prosecuting attorney education requirements

Most common deputy prosecuting attorney degrees

Doctorate

49.3 %

Bachelor's

44.3 %

Master's

3.2 %

Start to develop specific deputy prosecuting attorney skills

Skills	Percentages
Legal Research	10.90%
Jury Trials	8.81%
District Court	8.20%
Litigation	7.67%
Law Enforcement Agencies	6.54%

Complete relevant deputy prosecuting attorney training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deputy prosecuting attorneys learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a deputy prosecuting attorney based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deputy prosecuting attorney resumes.

Research deputy prosecuting attorney duties and responsibilities

Manage, train and mentore newly hire ADA's in courtroom management and trial advocacy.
Sign charges, write subpoenas, interview law enforcement, interview witnesses, negotiate with defense attorneys.
Oversee all aspects of entire misdemeanor court docket, charging decisions through appeals process.
Monitor paralegals and litigation support personnel.

Prepare your deputy prosecuting attorney resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your deputy prosecuting attorney resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a deputy prosecuting attorney resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable deputy prosecuting attorney resume templates

Build a professional deputy prosecuting attorney resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your deputy prosecuting attorney resume.

Apply for deputy prosecuting attorney jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a deputy prosecuting attorney job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average deputy prosecuting attorney salary

The average deputy prosecuting attorney salary in the United States is $77,440 per year or $37 per hour. Deputy prosecuting attorney salaries range between $51,000 and $116,000 per year.

Average deputy prosecuting attorney salary

$77,440 Yearly

$37.23 hourly

What is a deputy prosecuting attorney and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a deputy prosecuting attorney?

Deputy prosecuting attorney career paths

Key steps to become a deputy prosecuting attorney

Explore deputy prosecuting attorney education requirements

Most common deputy prosecuting attorney degrees

Start to develop specific deputy prosecuting attorney skills

Complete relevant deputy prosecuting attorney training and internships

Research deputy prosecuting attorney duties and responsibilities

Prepare your deputy prosecuting attorney resume

Choose from 10+ customizable deputy prosecuting attorney resume templates

Apply for deputy prosecuting attorney jobs

How did you land your first deputy prosecuting attorney job

Average deputy prosecuting attorney salary

How do deputy prosecuting attorneys rate their job?