Public Defender Statistics and Facts in the US
Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for Public Defenders in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 9,139 Public Defenders currently employed in the United States.
- 53.0% of all Public Defenders are women, while 43.7% are men.
- The average age of an employed Public Defender is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of Public Defenders is White (79.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (6.9%) and Asian (5.8%).
- The majority of Public Defenders are located in CA, Los Angeles and CA, San Diego.
- Public Defenders are most in-demand in Clearwater, FL.
- Public Defenders are paid an average annual salary of $56,464.
- Santa Rosa, CA pays an annual average wage of $105,700, the highest in the US.
- Public Defenders average starting salary is $39,000.
- In 2021, women earned 96% of what men earned.
- The top 10% of highest-paid Public Defenders earn as much as $81,000 or more.
- California is the best state for Public Defenders to live.
- Public Defenders are more likely to work at Government companies in comparison to Private companies.
Public Defender Statistics By Gender
Among Public Defenders, 53.0% of them are women compared to 43.7% which are men.
- Female, 53.0%
- Male, 43.7%
- Unknown, 3.3%
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|
Gender Pay Gap For Public Defender
Women Earn 96ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Public Defender Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the Public Defender position over time.
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|
Public Defender Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, Patent Attorney and Patent Examiner have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran Appeals Reviewer | 15% | 76% |
| Magistrate Assistant | 17% | 78% |
| Surrogate | 17% | 78% |
| Public Defender | 44% | 53% |
| Trial Lawyer | 70% | 27% |
| Patent Examiner | 72% | 21% |
| Patent Attorney | 72% | 19% |
Public Defender Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among Public Defenders is White, which makes up 79.8% of all Public Defenders. Comparatively, there are 6.9% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 5.8% of the Asian ethnicity.
- White, 79.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 7.0%
- Asian, 5.8%
- Black or African American, 5.4%
- Unknown, 1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
| Public Defender Race | Percentages |
|---|
Public Defender Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among Public Defenders.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|
Public Defender Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| White | $57,451 |
| Black or African American | $55,024 |
| Asian | $59,133 |
| Unknown | $56,735 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $55,519 |
Public Defender JOBS
Average Age of a Public Defender
We determined the average age of Public Defenders based on ethnicity and gender.
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|
Public Defender Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of Public Defender employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of Public Defenders is 40+ years old, which represents 65% of the population.
| Public Defender Years | Percentages |
|---|
Types of Public Defender Degree Levels
The most common degree for Public Defenders is Doctoral Degree 46% of Public Defenders earn that degree. A close second is Bachelor's Degree with 41% and rounding it off is Associate Degree with 5%.
- Doctorate, 46%
- Bachelors, 41%
- Associate, 5%
- Masters, 5%
- Other Degrees, 3%
| Public Defender Degree | Percentages |
|---|
Public Defender Jobs You Might Like
Public Defender Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $57,906 |
Public Defender Employment Statistics
This section highlights the information we gathered about the types of businesses and industries that employ Public Defenders. We found that the most common company type is Government. In addition, the industry that employs the most Public Defenders is the Government industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire Public Defenders.
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|
The Types Of Companies Public Defender Work In
Employees with the Public Defender job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most Public Defenders prefer to work at Government companies over Private companies.
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|
Top Industries Hiring Public Defenders
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ Public Defenders. Those industries include Government, Health Care and Non Profits.
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|
Public Defender Turnover And Employment Statistics
Public Defender Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of Public Defenders changed.
- Unemployment rate
| Year | Public Defender Unemployment Rate |
|---|
The Average Number of Years That Public Defender Stay in a Job
By looking over 831 Public Defenders resumes, we figured out that the average Public Defender enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 31%.
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Public Defenders with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to Public Defenders.
| Job Title | LGBT |
|---|---|
| Appellate Law Clerk | 5.54% |
| Office Manager And Legal Assistant | 6.63% |
| Title Junior Assistant | 8.14% |
| Court Reporter | 9.12% |
| Public Defender | 11.75% |
| Legislative Aide | 14.16% |
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|
Foreign Languages Spoken By Public Defenders
The most common foreign language among Public Defenders is Spanish at 55.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.0% and German is the third-most popular at 6.7%.
- Spanish, 55.0%
- French, 10.0%
- German, 6.7%
- Russian, 6.7%
- Arabic, 6.7%
- Other, 14.9%
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|
