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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

Public Defender Jobs In The Top 10 States

Find the best Public Defender job for you

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

The 10 Best States In The US For Public Defenders in 2022

(561 Public Defender Jobs)
(14 Public Defender Jobs)
(32 Public Defender Jobs)
(107 Public Defender Jobs)
(48 Public Defender Jobs)
(97 Public Defender Jobs)
(148 Public Defender Jobs)
(180 Public Defender Jobs)
(182 Public Defender Jobs)
(121 Public Defender Jobs)

We analyzed these data points for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. California is the best state for jobs for public defenders. The median salary for public defenders in California is $103,899. Check out the complete ranking and a full description of our methodology below.

Career Details for Public Defenders

Top Skills for Public Defenders

Top Salaries for Public Defenders

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

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	California	$103,899	$64,000	39,536,653	561
2	Alaska	$87,148	$60,000	739,795	14
3	Nevada	$72,431	$45,000	2,998,039	32
4	District of Columbia	$78,740	$50,000	693,972	107
5	Oregon	$75,055	$48,000	4,142,776	48
6	New Jersey	$74,058	$46,000	9,005,644	97
7	Virginia	$70,911	$45,000	8,470,020	148
8	New York	$71,643	$45,000	19,849,399	180
9	Georgia	$64,376	$41,000	10,429,379	182
10	Massachusetts	$69,773	$43,000	6,859,819	121
11	Washington	$71,610	$46,000	7,405,743	59
12	Texas	$67,439	$42,000	28,304,596	171
13	Illinois	$65,223	$44,000	12,802,023	138
14	Utah	$63,676	$43,000	3,101,833	35
15	Tennessee	$66,180	$43,000	6,715,984	37
16	Colorado	$64,310	$44,000	5,607,154	80
17	Michigan	$60,857	$40,000	9,962,311	80
18	Maryland	$66,510	$42,000	6,052,177	70
19	Connecticut	$63,311	$39,000	3,588,184	38
20	Arizona	$62,627	$39,000	7,016,270	50
21	Delaware	$63,033	$40,000	961,939	10
22	Rhode Island	$57,667	$35,000	1,059,639	22
23	Pennsylvania	$60,722	$38,000	12,805,537	88
24	Iowa	$61,430	$42,000	3,145,711	13
25	Ohio	$59,353	$39,000	11,658,609	51
26	Louisiana	$59,257	$37,000	4,684,333	25
27	Idaho	$57,601	$39,000	1,716,943	14
28	West Virginia	$58,709	$38,000	1,815,857	7
29	Vermont	$56,304	$34,000	623,657	12
30	Wyoming	$52,627	$37,000	579,315	11
31	Alabama	$57,934	$36,000	4,874,747	31
32	Minnesota	$56,629	$39,000	5,576,606	60
33	Florida	$53,961	$34,000	20,984,400	247
34	Wisconsin	$54,266	$37,000	5,795,483	58
35	North Carolina	$53,678	$34,000	10,273,419	132
36	Missouri	$56,384	$37,000	6,113,532	47
37	Hawaii	$63,371	$51,000	1,427,538	6
38	Montana	$51,081	$36,000	1,050,493	25
39	Nebraska	$55,241	$38,000	1,920,076	11
40	Arkansas	$52,787	$34,000	3,004,279	19
41	Kansas	$53,232	$36,000	2,913,123	21
42	South Carolina	$51,096	$32,000	5,024,369	41
43	North Dakota	$54,036	$38,000	755,393	2
44	Oklahoma	$49,034	$32,000	3,930,864	43
45	Kentucky	$51,681	$34,000	4,454,189	19
46	South Dakota	$51,112	$36,000	869,666	4
47	Maine	$33,406	$20,000	1,335,907	17
48	New Mexico	$51,895	$33,000	2,088,070	9
49	Mississippi	$50,307	$32,000	2,984,100	8
50	New Hampshire	$49,800	$30,000	1,342,795	8
51	Indiana	$40,608	$27,000	6,666,818	37

Highest paying states for Public Defenders

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

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Updated April 6, 2021