Best cities for a public defender
The best cities for public defenders are Stockton, CA, Riverside, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for public defenders vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for public defenders in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a public defender or considering a move, this list of the best cities for public defenders to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for public defenders. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a public defender. While the absolute best city for public defenders is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for public defenders in 2024.
If you're looking for a public defender job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for public defenders in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Total public defender jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $106,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 14.18 2. Riverside, CA
Total public defender jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $101,513 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 14.04 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total public defender jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $72,280 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 6.42 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total public defender jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $103,358 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 3.53 5. Oakland, CA
Total public defender jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,935 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Francisco, CA
Total public defender jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,317 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Jose, CA
Total public defender jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,828 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fremont, CA
Total public defender jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,763 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Corpus Christi, TX
Total public defender jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $69,861 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 14.71 10. Fresno, CA
Total public defender jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,738 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for public defenders
- Stockton, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Fresno, CA
- (3 public defender jobs)
- (5 public defender jobs)
- (9 public defender jobs)
- (18 public defender jobs)
- (0 public defender jobs)
- (0 public defender jobs)
- (0 public defender jobs)
- (0 public defender jobs)
- (2 public defender jobs)
- (0 public defender jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a public defender
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $106,642 | $65,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $101,513 | $62,000 | 324,722 | 5 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $72,280 | $45,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $103,358 | $63,000 | 3,976,322 | 18 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $108,935 | $66,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $109,317 | $67,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $108,828 | $66,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 8 | Fremont, CA | $108,763 | $66,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 9 | Corpus Christi, TX | $69,861 | $42,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 10 | Fresno, CA | $105,738 | $64,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $105,075 | $64,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 12 | Bakersfield, CA | $105,062 | $64,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $102,238 | $62,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $102,563 | $63,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $101,980 | $62,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $101,677 | $62,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $98,872 | $61,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 18 | Anchorage, AK | $88,626 | $61,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 19 | Henderson, NV | $72,167 | $45,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $71,883 | $45,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Chula Vista, CA | $98,603 | $61,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $73,752 | $46,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $70,903 | $44,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 24 | Memphis, TN | $65,491 | $42,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 25 | Laredo, TX | $70,785 | $42,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $68,371 | $41,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 27 | Nashville, TN | $66,174 | $43,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $69,233 | $42,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $68,002 | $41,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 30 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,532 | $41,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 31 | Arlington, TX | $65,480 | $41,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $74,822 | $48,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $65,317 | $41,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 34 | Irving, TX | $65,311 | $41,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 35 | Glendale, AZ | $62,768 | $39,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | $60,313 | $39,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 37 | Lubbock, TX | $66,700 | $43,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 38 | Garland, TX | $65,159 | $41,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $65,105 | $41,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 40 | Seattle, WA | $72,693 | $47,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 41 | Toledo, OH | $59,502 | $39,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 42 | Virginia Beach, VA | $71,499 | $45,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 43 | Jersey City, NJ | $73,937 | $46,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 44 | Norfolk, VA | $71,295 | $45,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $73,893 | $46,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $71,180 | $45,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 47 | Cincinnati, OH | $58,140 | $38,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 48 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,402 | $38,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $61,020 | $40,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 50 | Hempstead, NY | $72,061 | $45,000 | 759,757 | - |
Highest paying cities for public defenders
| Rank | City | Avg. public defender salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $108,341 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $72,594 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $72,280 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $69,473 |
| 5 | Waukegan, IL | $65,572 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $64,225 |
| 7 | Ogden, UT | $63,339 |
| 8 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $61,825 |
| 9 | Caldwell, ID | $58,842 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $58,140 |
| 11 | Tallahassee, FL | $54,178 |
| 12 | Wichita, KS | $53,525 |
| 13 | Jonesboro, AR | $52,918 |
| 14 | Helena, MT | $51,189 |
| 15 | Sioux Falls, SD | $50,943 |
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Updated January 8, 2025