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
Ronald Slack holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $55,731.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Laine Kontos serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $55,663.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Gabriel Martinez holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $55,488.