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The differences between district attorneys 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 a district attorney and an assistant state attorney. Additionally, an assistant state attorney has an average salary of $82,255, which is higher than the $72,965 average annual salary of a district attorney.
The top three skills for a district attorney include pre-trial conferences, legal research and law enforcement agencies. The most important skills for an assistant state attorney are litigation, criminal cases, and appeals.
| District Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $72,965 | $82,255 |
| Hourly rate | $35.08 | $39.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 13,378 | 9,855 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
District attorneys represent the government in court and prepare criminal prosecution cases. Besides partnering on criminal investigations and evaluating police reports, district attorneys also consult with alleged perpetrators, law enforcement, and judges. They uphold professional ethics, abide by the country's prosecution laws, and supervise and guide legal clerks and associates. Moreover, district attorneys prepare and file pre-trial motions, study case law, and gather enough evidence needed to prosecute alleged perpetrators in the court. Also, they assess legal merits to bring criminal charges against the alleged perpetrators.
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.
District attorneys and assistant state attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| District Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average salary | $72,965 | $82,255 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $107,000 | Between $55,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Ventura County Community Foundation | State Attorney's Office |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a district attorney and an assistant state attorney in terms of educational background:
| District Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between district attorneys' and assistant state attorneys' demographics:
| District Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% 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% |