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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Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Lucia Juarez Soto holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $144,226.
Senior Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Monica Vallejo is a Senior Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $144,191.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Maria Medrano is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $144,060.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Mayra Alvarez is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $143,965.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Chloe Gucciardi is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $143,942.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Chieko Quigley holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $143,670.
Management Assistant/Public Defender
Christopher Harris works as a Management Assistant for Public Defender. Christopher earned $143,656 in 2025.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Cheryl Franklin works as a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant for Public Defender. Cheryl earned $143,587 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Karen Truong holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $143,573.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Tawny Rucker works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Tawny earned $143,236 in 2025.
Senior IT Technical Support Analyst/Public Defender
Jorge Hernandez Jr holds the role of Senior IT Technical Support Analyst at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $143,137.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Sydni Loya is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $143,115.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Sophia Newhouse Brown serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $143,105.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Sandra Hernandez holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $142,440.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Paul Adkins holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $142,100.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Virginia Dickson holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $141,882.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Tiffany Wu serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,850.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Sabrina Quarles is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $141,667.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Edgar Lopez works as a Psychiatric Social Worker II for Public Defender. Edgar earned $141,647 in 2025.
Senior Secretary V/Public Defender
Gracie Harris holds the role of Senior Secretary V at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $141,567.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Shena Wagner is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $141,504.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Anna Mendez holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $141,270.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jordan Washington serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $140,695.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
John Goodman holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $140,661.
Paralegal/Public Defender
April Pimentel works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. April earned $140,340 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Antonio Rocha holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $140,315.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Adam Radwan holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $140,089.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Hector Sanchez works as a Psychiatric Social Worker I for Public Defender. Hector earned $139,947 in 2025.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Beverly Critikidis works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Beverly earned $139,809 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Yolanda Conner is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $139,740.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Maria Alvarez holds the role of Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $139,160.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Emelina Palacios Martinez works as a Senior Paralegal for Public Defender. Emelina earned $138,903 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Rose Trenado works as a Legal Office Support Assistant II for Public Defender. Rose earned $138,803 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Yvette Lopez is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $138,500.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Sandra Mercado holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $138,448.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, David Pike serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $138,185.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
K'Yanna Wesley holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $137,899.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Leslie Mendoza holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $137,858.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Richard Schoonover works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Richard earned $137,814 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Liliana Miramontes Jauregui works as a Psychiatric Social Worker II for Public Defender. Liliana earned $137,660 in 2025.