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The differences between public defenders and judges can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a public defender, becoming a judge takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a judge has an average salary of $123,457, which is higher than the $69,052 average annual salary of a public defender.
The top three skills for a public defender include mental health, law enforcement and criminal cases. The most important skills for a judge are legal issues, civil law, and international law.
| Public Defender | Judge | |
| Yearly salary | $69,052 | $123,457 |
| Hourly rate | $33.20 | $59.35 |
| Growth rate | 10% | -1% |
| Number of jobs | 11,673 | 1,026 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 10 |
Public Defenders have a career choice whose scope is simple but contains a complex educational background for the level of work involved. This position calls upon those with strong multitasking, interpersonal skills, and a great deal of confidence for the workload. To qualify for this position, a degree with a focus on criminal defense law is required. They are absolutely indispensable for an appointee in trials to represent people who would otherwise not be able to afford an attorney to defend themselves.
Judges are officials who conduct court proceedings. They sign arrest and search warrants, restraining orders, subpoenas, etc. When working on a case, the judges decide if the accused should be set free or sent to jail based on the presented evidence. They should be unbiased when listening to witnesses and examining evidence. They must show compassion and understanding to both sides and keep in mind that justice means more than just knowing the law. Additionally, their goal should only be finding the truth.
Public defenders and judges have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Defender | Judge | |
| Average salary | $69,052 | $123,457 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $98,000 | Between $68,000 And $222,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Jacksonville, FL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | United States Courts | United States Courts |
| Best paying industry | Government | Media |
There are a few differences between a public defender and a judge in terms of educational background:
| Public Defender | Judge | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between public defenders' and judges' demographics:
| Public Defender | Judge | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.1% Female, 54.9% | Male, 50.3% Female, 49.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |