How much does a Public Defender make?
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$105,737
/ yrHow much does a Public Defender make?
The estimated total pay for a Public Defender is $105,737 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $96,226 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $9,512 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
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Related Job Titles
For Public Defender
Some related job titles are Assistant Public Defender Salaries with median pay of $80,289.
What are total pay estimates for a Public Defender at different companies?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$91,080
/ yr
$109,418
/ yr$107,020
/ yr
$104,241
/ yr
$97,194
/ yr
$80,890
/ yr
$132,789
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$98,514
/ yr
$119,380
/ yr
$92,200
/ yr
$97,520
/ yr
$82,971
/ yr
$110,730
/ yr
$96,337
/ yr
$45
/ hr
$82,803
/ yr
$81,418
/ yr
Public Defender Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Public Defender in United States
The top paying industry for a Public Defender in United States is Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $91,080.
- Government & Public AdministrationGovernment & Public Administration$91,080
0% Lower than other industries
Government & Public Administration
The top paying company in Government & Public Administration for Public Defender is Maryland Office of the Public Defender.
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
The legal field is expected to see continued demand to meet increased regulatory and tax compliance needs in the future. Employees will increasingly work with artificial intelligence and automated services, with workers shifting towards advisory roles rather than document review. Companies are expected to shift more work to in-house legal staff and away from law firm partnerships due to the high cost of outside counsel. Most work in the field requires higher education and offers above-median pay.
Recent Salaries Shared
For public defender
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 6 days ago
United States of America
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted 8 days ago
United States of America
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted 10 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 13 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 16 days ago
United States of America
| 7-9 years
/hr
Submitted 18 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/hr
Submitted 19 days ago
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 23 days ago
Public Defender pay FAQ
The national average salary for a Public Defender is $96,226 per year in United States. Filter by location to see a Public Defender salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 79 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Public Defender employees.
The highest salary for a Public Defender in United States is $150,587 per year.
The lowest salary for a Public Defender in United States is $61,488 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Public Defender or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Public Defender.