Los Angeles County / 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 1,297 employees with median total compensation of $178,093; the highest distinct record was $714,318.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 1,297 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($178,093) — 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 $346,409 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $55,488. 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
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Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Edward Olivares holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $268,992.
Lieutenant,Public Defender/Public Defender
Christopher Nicely holds the role of Lieutenant,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $268,749.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Michael Tracy serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $268,456.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Emerald Berg is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $267,687.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Karla Crone works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Karla earned $267,420 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Alexa Browning works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Alexa earned $267,069 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Scott Chu holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $266,424.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Gerardo Castaneda is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $266,363.
Senior Information Systems Analyst/Public Defender
Sandra Hurst holds the role of Senior Information Systems Analyst at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $266,325.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Zahra Mohammed holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $266,126.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Sarah Entezari is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $266,085.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Mary Ray is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $265,617.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Dean Deruise serves as a Investigator III, Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $264,562.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
James Kim is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $264,441.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Cecilia Equihua Mclellan is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $263,371.
Principal Application Developer/Public Defender
Chaoliang Lin works as a Principal Application Developer for Public Defender. Chaoliang earned $262,981 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jody Marksamer serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $262,596.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jennifer Berry works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Jennifer earned $262,490 in 2025.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Ruben Castellanos is a Investigator III, Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $262,097.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Sandra Berlin is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $261,489.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Marcos Mendez is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $260,557.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Thalia Roussos Singer is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $260,531.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Erik Rodstrom works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Erik earned $260,316 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Yungsheng Wang holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $260,305.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Michael Lambrose is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $260,280.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Lorena Torres is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $260,028.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Claire Krystkiewicz is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $259,681.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Conlan Danieu is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $259,246.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jessica Schibler holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $259,063.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Thomas Bruner works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Thomas earned $258,990 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Sandor Carrasco holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $258,258.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Chelsea Padilla holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $258,053.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Lisa Gordon is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $257,694.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Julieta Flores serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $257,657.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Robert Fiffer is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $257,155.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Guadalupe Esparza holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $257,148.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jennifer Johnson-Perez serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $256,136.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jerry Tennison works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Jerry earned $255,545 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Lonisha Thompson works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Lonisha earned $254,911 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Kathleen Fischman holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $254,681.