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Public defender salary
Average public defender salary
$69,052
Average Public Defender Salary
The average salary for public defenders varies significantly across the United States. With a national average of $69,052 per year, factors such as location and experience can greatly influence earning potential. For example, public defenders in urban areas often earn higher salaries compared to their rural counterparts due to the cost of living and demand for legal services.
Public Defender Salaries by Experience Level
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level public defenders typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher wages. Understanding these salary trends helps aspiring public defenders make informed career decisions.
Highest Paying States for Public Defenders
States like California, New York, and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for public defenders. In these states, salaries can exceed $80,000 annually, reflecting the increasing need for legal representation in diverse communities.
Explore Job Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a public defender, Zippia provides a comprehensive job board featuring current openings and salary estimates across various states. Take the next step in your legal career today!
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Where can a Public Defender earn more?
Public defender salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level public defender | $40,100 | $19.27 |
| Mid-level public defender | $48,400 | $23.25 |
| Senior-level public defender | $101,000 | $48.77 |
Public defender salary estimates from across the web
Average public defender salary by state
The highest-paying states for public defenders are California, Alaska, and Oregon. The lowest average public defender salary states are Montana, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for public defenders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $103,899 | $49.95 |
| 2 | Alaska | $87,148 | $41.90 |
| 3 | Nevada | $72,431 | $34.82 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| 5 | Oregon | $75,055 | $36.08 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $74,058 | $35.60 |
| 7 | Virginia | $70,911 | $34.09 |
| 8 | New York | $71,643 | $34.44 |
| 9 | Georgia | $64,376 | $30.95 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $69,773 | $33.54 |
| 11 | Washington | $71,610 | $34.43 |
| 12 | Texas | $67,439 | $32.42 |
| 13 | Illinois | $65,223 | $31.36 |
| 14 | Utah | $63,676 | $30.61 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $66,180 | $31.82 |
| 16 | Colorado | $64,310 | $30.92 |
| 17 | Michigan | $60,857 | $29.26 |
| 18 | Maryland | $66,510 | $31.98 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $63,311 | $30.44 |
| 20 | Arizona | $62,627 | $30.11 |
| 21 | Delaware | $63,033 | $30.30 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $57,667 | $27.72 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $60,722 | $29.19 |
| 24 | Iowa | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| 25 | Ohio | $59,353 | $28.54 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $59,257 | $28.49 |
| 27 | Idaho | $57,601 | $27.69 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $58,709 | $28.23 |
| 29 | Vermont | $56,304 | $27.07 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $52,627 | $25.30 |
| 31 | Alabama | $57,934 | $27.85 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $56,629 | $27.23 |
| 33 | Florida | $53,961 | $25.94 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $54,266 | $26.09 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $53,678 | $25.81 |
| 36 | Missouri | $56,384 | $27.11 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $63,371 | $30.47 |
| 38 | Montana | $51,081 | $24.56 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $55,241 | $26.56 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $52,787 | $25.38 |
| 41 | Kansas | $53,232 | $25.59 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $51,096 | $24.57 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $54,036 | $25.98 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $49,034 | $23.57 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $51,681 | $24.85 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $51,112 | $24.57 |
| 47 | Maine | $33,406 | $16.06 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $51,895 | $24.95 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $50,307 | $24.19 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| 51 | Indiana | $40,608 | $19.52 |
Highest paying cities for public defenders
The highest-paying cities for public defenders are Santa Rosa, CA, Mount Vernon, WA, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $108,341 | $52.09 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $72,594 | $34.90 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $72,280 | $34.75 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $69,473 | $33.40 |
| 5 | Waukegan, IL | $65,572 | $31.52 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $64,225 | $30.88 |
| 7 | Ogden, UT | $63,339 | $30.45 |
| 8 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $61,825 | $29.72 |
| 9 | Caldwell, ID | $58,842 | $28.29 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| 11 | Tallahassee, FL | $54,178 | $26.05 |
| 12 | Wichita, KS | $53,525 | $25.73 |
| 13 | Jonesboro, AR | $52,918 | $25.44 |
| 14 | Helena, MT | $51,189 | $24.61 |
| 15 | Sioux Falls, SD | $50,943 | $24.49 |
Public defender salary details
A public defender's salary ranges from $48,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $98,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a public defender's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $69,052 | $5,754 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
Highest paying public defender jobs
The highest paying types of public defenders are corporate counsel, legal counsel, and general counsel.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
| Attorney | $109,476 | $9,123 | $52.63 | 10,991 |
| Corporate Counsel | $142,515 | $11,876 | $68.52 | 14,913 |
| Staff Attorney | $110,028 | $9,169 | $52.90 | 75,402 |
| Legal Counsel | $132,867 | $11,072 | $63.88 | 10,337 |
| Contract Attorney | $97,474 | $8,123 | $46.86 | 13,592 |
Top companies hiring public defenders now:
Which companies pay public defenders the most?
Public defender salaries at United States Courts and Department of Public Social Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public defender salary at companies like San Bernardino County and City and County of Denver Government are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Courts | $88,419 | $42.51 |
| 2 | Department of Public Social Services | $85,783 | $41.24 |
| 3 | San Bernardino County | $82,930 | $39.87 |
| 4 | City and County of Denver Government | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| 5 | City of El Dorado | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| 6 | Ventura County Community Foundation | $76,250 | $36.66 |
| 7 | County of Riverside | $76,013 | $36.54 |
| 8 | Clark County | $75,333 | $36.22 |
| 9 | Skagit County | $75,052 | $36.08 |
| 10 | Minnehaha County | $74,403 | $35.77 |
| 11 | Fort Bend County | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| 12 | Canyon County | $71,830 | $34.53 |
| 13 | SHASTA COUNTY | $71,510 | $34.38 |
| 14 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $71,443 | $34.35 |
| 15 | COUNTY OF MERCED | $69,612 | $33.47 |
| 16 | S.C. Department of Commerce | $69,497 | $33.41 |
| 17 | County Of Los Angeles Public Library | $69,431 | $33.38 |
| 18 | City of Aurora | $69,294 | $33.31 |
| 19 | County of Yolo | $69,144 | $33.24 |
| 20 | Lake County | $69,036 | $33.19 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Public defender salary trends
The average public defender salary has risen by $7,410 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public defender earned $61,642 annually, but today, they earn $69,052 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for public defenders over the last decade.
Compare public defender salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average public defender salary over time
Compare public defender salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Public defender salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $69,100 | $33.20 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $66,900 | $32.16 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $65,800 | $31.62 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $64,900 | $31.19 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $64,300 | $30.90 | +2.0% |
Recently added public defender salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulare County, Ca | Public Defender Investigator I | Visalia, CA | 06/28/2025 | $70,082 |
| State of Florida | Public Defender's Office, 7Th Circuit-Investigator I | Daytona Beach, FL | 06/27/2025 | $40,000 |
| State of South Dakota | Public Defender | Sioux Falls, SD | 06/26/2025 | $85,000 |
| State of Kansas | Deputy Public Defender | Lane, KS | 06/26/2025 | $85,000 |
| St. Joseph County, In | Deputy Public Defender | South Bend, IN | 06/24/2025 | $43,162 |
| County of Marin (Ca | Deputy Public Defender III (Immigration Attorney)-Fixed Term | San Rafael, CA | 06/22/2025 | $167,502 |
| County of Nevada | Attorney III-Public Defender | Nevada City, CA | 06/20/2025 | $132,405 |
| City of Santa Fe, Nm | Public Defender | Florence, SC | 06/19/2025 | $89,428 |
| Law Offices of The Public Defender | Public Defender) | Albuquerque, NM | 06/19/2025 | $93,038 |
| San Bernardino County | Social Service Practitioner I/II/III-Public Defender | Ione, CA | 06/16/2025 | $75,088 |
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