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Allegheny County, Pennsylvania / Public Defender

Agency file

Public Defender

Source file: Allegheny County — Employee Salaries / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2025, this agency had 176 employees with median total compensation of $66,610; the highest distinct record was $119,612.

Year
2025
Total payroll
$9.9M
Employees
176
Median total
$66,610
Highest record
$119,612

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 176 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($66,610) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

  • Base$55,549 (99%)
  • Overtime$93 (0%)
  • Other$499 (1%)
  • Benefits$0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
$13,717
$35,977
$66,610
$79,166
$90,199

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $90,199 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $13,717. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Trial Defender 4
60 · $68,865
Trial Defender 3
16 · $79,166
Legal Secretary 1/
12 · $41,429
Trial Defender 2
11 · $98,369
Investigator
9 · $45,574

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 3 published years.

YearTotal payrollEmployeesMedian pay
2023
$8.8M
160
$64,231
2024
$9.3M
5.0%
161
0.6%
$66,875
4.1%
2025
$9.9M
6.5%
176
9.3%
$66,610
0.4%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Andrew Howard

Director/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$119,612
Base pay
$119,612
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$119,612
Hire date
3/23/2015

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$140,416
Elected Official
No
Gross Pay
$119,612
Pay Status
Active

Andrew Howard is a Director at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 3/23/2015. 2025 total compensation came to $119,612.

Jaclynn R Kearney

Trial Defender 2/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$116,684
Base pay
$111,192
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,492
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$116,684
Hire date
9/30/1987

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$109,841
Elected Official
No
Gross Pay
$116,684
Pay Status
Active

Jaclynn R Kearney is a Trial Defender 2 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 9/30/1987. 2025 total compensation came to $116,684.

Marcy L Nord

Trial Defender 2/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$116,684
Base pay
$111,192
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,492
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$116,684
Hire date
5/22/1989

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$109,841
Elected Official
No
Gross Pay
$116,684
Pay Status
Active

Marcy L Nord is a Trial Defender 2 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 5/22/1989. 2025 total compensation came to $116,684.

Christopher Patarini

Trial Defender 2/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$115,309
Base pay
$109,692
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,617
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$115,309
Hire date
4/27/1987

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$109,841
Elected Official
No
Gross Pay
$115,309
Pay Status
Active

Christopher Patarini works as a Trial Defender 2 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 4/27/1987. Christopher earned $115,309 in 2025.

Nikki Ann Tufano

Trial Defender 2/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$111,933
Base pay
$106,601
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,332
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$111,933
Hire date
1/21/1986

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$106,641
Elected Official
No
Gross Pay
$111,933
Pay Status
Active

Nikki Ann Tufano is a Trial Defender 2 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 1/21/1986. 2025 total compensation came to $111,933.