Best States For a Public Defender

  • Rank 1 - 10
  • 11 - 20
  • 21 - 30
  • 31 - 40
  • 41 - 51
It seems like public defenders are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for public defenders aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As public defenders are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for public defenders. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a public defender, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for public defender jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities. Some of the companies that are hiring for public defenders include State Of Florida and Colorado State Public Defender.

Here Are the Best States for Public Defenders In 2023:

  1. 1. California

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		561
    Average Annual Salary:$103,899
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$64,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$167,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.64
    Public Defender Jobs in California

  2. 2. Alaska

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		14
    Average Annual Salary:$87,148
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$60,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$125,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.43
    Public Defender Jobs in Alaska

  3. 3. Nevada

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		32
    Average Annual Salary:$72,431
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$45,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$114,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.31
    Public Defender Jobs in Nevada

  4. 4. District of Columbia

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		107
    Average Annual Salary:$78,740
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$122,000
    Location Quotient:
    5.44
    Public Defender Jobs in District of Columbia

  5. 5. Oregon

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		48
    Average Annual Salary:$75,055
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$115,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.99
    Public Defender Jobs in Oregon

  6. 6. New Jersey

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		97
    Average Annual Salary:$74,058
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$46,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$116,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.04
    Public Defender Jobs in New Jersey

  7. 7. Virginia

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		148
    Average Annual Salary:$70,911
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$45,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$110,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.34
    Public Defender Jobs in Virginia

  8. 8. New York

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		180
    Average Annual Salary:$71,643
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$45,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$113,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.2
    Public Defender Jobs in New York

  9. 9. Georgia

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		182
    Average Annual Salary:$64,376
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.5
    Public Defender Jobs in Georgia

  10. 10. Massachusetts

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		121
    Average Annual Salary:$69,773
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$112,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.12
    Public Defender Jobs in Massachusetts

  11. Public Defender JobsNear Ashburn, VA

    11. Washington

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		59
    Average Annual Salary:$71,610
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$46,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$109,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.69
    Public Defender Jobs in Washington

  12. 12. Texas

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		171
    Average Annual Salary:$67,439
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$107,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.72
    Public Defender Jobs in Texas

  13. 13. Illinois

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		138
    Average Annual Salary:$65,223
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$96,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.99
    Public Defender Jobs in Illinois

  14. 14. Utah

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		35
    Average Annual Salary:$63,676
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$92,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.94
    Public Defender Jobs in Utah

  15. 15. Tennessee

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		37
    Average Annual Salary:$66,180
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$101,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.54
    Public Defender Jobs in Tennessee

  16. 16. Colorado

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		80
    Average Annual Salary:$64,310
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$93,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.15
    Public Defender Jobs in Colorado

  17. 17. Michigan

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		80
    Average Annual Salary:$60,857
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$91,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.88
    Public Defender Jobs in Michigan

  18. 18. Maryland

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		70
    Average Annual Salary:$66,510
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$103,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.94
    Public Defender Jobs in Maryland

  19. 19. Connecticut

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		38
    Average Annual Salary:$63,311
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Public Defender Jobs in Connecticut

  20. 20. Arizona

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		50
    Average Annual Salary:$62,627
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.73
    Public Defender Jobs in Arizona

  21. Public Defender Jobs In The Top 10 States

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    21. Delaware

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		10
    Average Annual Salary:$63,033
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$99,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.68
    Public Defender Jobs in Delaware

  22. 22. Rhode Island

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		22
    Average Annual Salary:$57,667
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$92,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.55
    Public Defender Jobs in Rhode Island

  23. 23. Pennsylvania

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		88
    Average Annual Salary:$60,722
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.65
    Public Defender Jobs in Pennsylvania

  24. 24. Iowa

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		13
    Average Annual Salary:$61,430
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$89,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.31
    Public Defender Jobs in Iowa

  25. 25. Ohio

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		51
    Average Annual Salary:$59,353
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$89,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.43
    Public Defender Jobs in Ohio

  26. 26. Louisiana

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		25
    Average Annual Salary:$59,257
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$94,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.67
    Public Defender Jobs in Louisiana

  27. 27. Idaho

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		14
    Average Annual Salary:$57,601
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$84,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.73
    Public Defender Jobs in Idaho

  28. 28. West Virginia

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		7
    Average Annual Salary:$58,709
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$89,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.39
    Public Defender Jobs in West Virginia

  29. 29. Vermont

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		12
    Average Annual Salary:$56,304
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$91,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.33
    Public Defender Jobs in Vermont

  30. 30. Wyoming

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		11
    Average Annual Salary:$52,627
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$74,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.57
    Public Defender Jobs in Wyoming

  31. 31. Alabama

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		31
    Average Annual Salary:$57,934
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$90,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.6
    Public Defender Jobs in Alabama

  32. 32. Minnesota

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		60
    Average Annual Salary:$56,629
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$80,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.77
    Public Defender Jobs in Minnesota

  33. 33. Florida

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		247
    Average Annual Salary:$53,961
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$85,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.35
    Public Defender Jobs in Florida

  34. 34. Wisconsin

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		58
    Average Annual Salary:$54,266
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$79,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.9
    Public Defender Jobs in Wisconsin

  35. 35. North Carolina

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		132
    Average Annual Salary:$53,678
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$83,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.17
    Public Defender Jobs in North Carolina

  36. 36. Missouri

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		47
    Average Annual Salary:$56,384
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$83,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.69
    Public Defender Jobs in Missouri

  37. 37. Hawaii

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		6
    Average Annual Salary:$63,371
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$51,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$78,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.61
    Public Defender Jobs in Hawaii

  38. 38. Montana

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		25
    Average Annual Salary:$51,081
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$70,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.85
    Public Defender Jobs in Montana

  39. 39. Nebraska

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		11
    Average Annual Salary:$55,241
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$80,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.42
    Public Defender Jobs in Nebraska

  40. 40. Arkansas

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		19
    Average Annual Salary:$52,787
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$80,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.62
    Public Defender Jobs in Arkansas

  41. 41. Kansas

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		21
    Average Annual Salary:$53,232
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$78,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.59
    Public Defender Jobs in Kansas

  42. 42. South Carolina

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		41
    Average Annual Salary:$51,096
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$32,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$80,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.78
    Public Defender Jobs in South Carolina

  43. 43. North Dakota

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		2
    Average Annual Salary:$54,036
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$75,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.18
    Public Defender Jobs in North Dakota

  44. 44. Oklahoma

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		43
    Average Annual Salary:$49,034
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$32,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$73,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.19
    Public Defender Jobs in Oklahoma

  45. 45. Kentucky

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		19
    Average Annual Salary:$51,681
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$78,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.44
    Public Defender Jobs in Kentucky

  46. 46. South Dakota

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		4
    Average Annual Salary:$51,112
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$72,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.32
    Public Defender Jobs in South Dakota

  47. 47. Maine

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		17
    Average Annual Salary:$33,406
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$20,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$54,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.09
    Public Defender Jobs in Maine

  48. 48. New Mexico

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		9
    Average Annual Salary:$51,895
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$33,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$79,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.39
    Public Defender Jobs in New Mexico

  49. 49. Mississippi

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		8
    Average Annual Salary:$50,307
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$32,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$78,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.32
    Public Defender Jobs in Mississippi

  50. 50. New Hampshire

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		8
    Average Annual Salary:$49,800
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$30,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$80,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.39
    Public Defender Jobs in New Hampshire

  51. 51. Indiana

    Total Public Defender Jobs:
    		37
    Average Annual Salary:$40,608
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$27,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$60,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.48
    Public Defender Jobs in Indiana

How We Determined The Best States To Be A Public Defender

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

Detailed List Of The Best States For A Public Defender

RankStateAverage SalaryLowest 10% EarnPopulationJob Count
1California$103,899$64,00039,536,653561
2Alaska$87,148$60,000739,79514
3Nevada$72,431$45,0002,998,03932
4District of Columbia$78,740$50,000693,972107
5Oregon$75,055$48,0004,142,77648
6New Jersey$74,058$46,0009,005,64497
7Virginia$70,911$45,0008,470,020148
8New York$71,643$45,00019,849,399180
9Georgia$64,376$41,00010,429,379182
10Massachusetts$69,773$43,0006,859,819121
11Washington$71,610$46,0007,405,74359
12Texas$67,439$42,00028,304,596171
13Illinois$65,223$44,00012,802,023138
14Utah$63,676$43,0003,101,83335
15Tennessee$66,180$43,0006,715,98437
16Colorado$64,310$44,0005,607,15480
17Michigan$60,857$40,0009,962,31180
18Maryland$66,510$42,0006,052,17770
19Connecticut$63,311$39,0003,588,18438
20Arizona$62,627$39,0007,016,27050
21Delaware$63,033$40,000961,93910
22Rhode Island$57,667$35,0001,059,63922
23Pennsylvania$60,722$38,00012,805,53788
24Iowa$61,430$42,0003,145,71113
25Ohio$59,353$39,00011,658,60951
26Louisiana$59,257$37,0004,684,33325
27Idaho$57,601$39,0001,716,94314
28West Virginia$58,709$38,0001,815,8577
29Vermont$56,304$34,000623,65712
30Wyoming$52,627$37,000579,31511
31Alabama$57,934$36,0004,874,74731
32Minnesota$56,629$39,0005,576,60660
33Florida$53,961$34,00020,984,400247
34Wisconsin$54,266$37,0005,795,48358
35North Carolina$53,678$34,00010,273,419132
36Missouri$56,384$37,0006,113,53247
37Hawaii$63,371$51,0001,427,5386
38Montana$51,081$36,0001,050,49325
39Nebraska$55,241$38,0001,920,07611
40Arkansas$52,787$34,0003,004,27919
41Kansas$53,232$36,0002,913,12321
42South Carolina$51,096$32,0005,024,36941
43North Dakota$54,036$38,000755,3932
44Oklahoma$49,034$32,0003,930,86443
45Kentucky$51,681$34,0004,454,18919
46South Dakota$51,112$36,000869,6664
47Maine$33,406$20,0001,335,90717
48New Mexico$51,895$33,0002,088,0709
49Mississippi$50,307$32,0002,984,1008
50New Hampshire$49,800$30,0001,342,7958
51Indiana$40,608$27,0006,666,81837

Highest paying states for Public Defenders

RankStateAvg. Public Defender Salary
1California$103,899
2Alaska$87,148
3Nevada$72,431
4District of Columbia$78,740
5Oregon$75,055
6New Jersey$74,058
7Virginia$70,911
8New York$71,643
9Georgia$64,376
10Massachusetts$69,773
11Washington$71,610
12Texas$67,439
13Illinois$65,223
14Utah$63,676
15Tennessee$66,180
16Colorado$64,310
17Michigan$60,857
18Maryland$66,510
19Connecticut$63,311
20Arizona$62,627
21Delaware$63,033
22Rhode Island$57,667
23Pennsylvania$60,722
24Iowa$61,430
25Ohio$59,353
26Louisiana$59,257
27Idaho$57,601
28West Virginia$58,709
29Vermont$56,304
30Wyoming$52,627
31Alabama$57,934
32Minnesota$56,629
33Florida$53,961
34Wisconsin$54,266
35North Carolina$53,678
36Missouri$56,384
37Hawaii$63,371
38Montana$51,081
39Nebraska$55,241
40Arkansas$52,787
41Kansas$53,232
42South Carolina$51,096
43North Dakota$54,036
44Oklahoma$49,034
45Kentucky$51,681
46South Dakota$51,112
47Maine$33,406
48New Mexico$51,895
49Mississippi$50,307
50New Hampshire$49,800
51Indiana$40,608
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Updated April 6, 2021