Allegheny County, Pennsylvania / Public Defender
Agency file
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.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Record list
Highest-paid first / page 6
Investigator/Public Defender
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Kaylyn Shaffer holds the role of Investigator at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/3/2020. In 2023, their total compensation was $15,375.
Legal Secretary 1//Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Ashley Friday serves as a Legal Secretary 1/. Records show a hire date of 2/6/2017. Their 2023 pay totaled $15,218.
Social Worker/Public Defender
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Lauren A Stoner holds the role of Social Worker at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 6/25/2018. In 2023, their total compensation was $15,106.
Social Worker/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Erin M. Mcgann serves as a Social Worker. Records show a hire date of 9/22/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $15,000.
Social Worker/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Rachel M. Zawadzki serves as a Social Worker. Records show a hire date of 9/22/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $15,000.
Education Advocate/Public Defender
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Stephanie Tecza works as a Education Advocate for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 5/9/2022. Stephanie earned $14,962 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Courtney King is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 10/23/2022. 2023 total compensation came to $14,212.
Arraignment Attorney/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Eric J Beinhart serves as a Arraignment Attorney. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. Their 2023 pay totaled $14,069.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Benjamin H Blanks works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/2/2025. Benjamin earned $13,717 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Jeffrey M Chmay works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/2/2025. Jeffrey earned $13,717 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Natalie C Flores-Semyonova serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 11/2/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Hannah G Florey holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/2/2025. In 2025, their total compensation was $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Erin F Fullerton is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/2/2025. 2025 total compensation came to $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Samantha L James works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/2/2025. Samantha earned $13,717 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Katarina I Montoro serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 11/2/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Christian F Palmer holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/2/2025. In 2025, their total compensation was $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Grace E Ruane is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/2/2025. 2025 total compensation came to $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Katherine P Staley serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 11/2/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $13,717.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, John F Mcfarlane serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 11/2/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $13,573.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Yang Lan holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/2/2025. In 2025, their total compensation was $13,141.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Vishal Bajpai is a Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. 2024 total compensation came to $11,833.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Alexander J Curran is a Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. 2023 total compensation came to $11,559.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Celia M Dicarlo holds the role of Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/5/2023. In 2023, their total compensation was $11,496.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Ashlynn S. Davis is a Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. 2023 total compensation came to $11,415.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Anthony R. Jessel is a Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. 2023 total compensation came to $11,242.
Paralegal/Public Defender
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Audrey P Hollis holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 5/29/2016. In 2025, their total compensation was $10,994.
Social Worker/Public Defender
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Jordan E Mondell works as a Social Worker for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/20/2025. Jordan earned $10,000 in 2025.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Aaron Razo works as a Law Clerk II for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 8/19/2024. Aaron earned $9,360 in 2024.
Pt Law Clerk/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Jacob H Frazier serves as a Pt Law Clerk. Records show a hire date of 8/25/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $9,216.
Pt Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Matthew K Swartsfager is a Pt Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 8/25/2025. 2025 total compensation came to $9,216.
Investigator/Public Defender
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Jackson B. Mullins is a Investigator at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/26/2002. 2025 total compensation came to $8,798.
Deputy Director Juvenile Division/Public Defender
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Cherann C Porter works as a Deputy Director Juvenile Division for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/8/2021. Cherann earned $8,690 in 2024.
Intern/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Dery A Ozcan serves as a Intern. Records show a hire date of 6/6/2022. Their 2023 pay totaled $8,483.
Paralegal/Public Defender
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Eitan Ezra D Scherrer works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/6/2025. Eitan earned $8,417 in 2025.
Law Clerk II/Public Defender
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Kelsey J. Vita holds the role of Law Clerk II at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 8/21/2023. In 2023, their total compensation was $8,025.
Investigator/Public Defender
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Makenzie E Galley is a Investigator at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 10/20/2025. 2025 total compensation came to $7,048.
Legal Intake Clerk/Public Defender
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Brendan F. Renne works as a Legal Intake Clerk for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/2/2023. Brendan earned $6,545 in 2023.
Legal Secretary 1//Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Hannah N Atwater serves as a Legal Secretary 1/. Records show a hire date of 10/20/2025. Their 2025 pay totaled $6,400.
Investigator/Public Defender
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Nicholas P Dantella is a Investigator at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 2/19/2019. 2023 total compensation came to $6,167.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
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Paul M Stillman holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/20/2025. In 2025, their total compensation was $5,570.