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
Highest-paid first / page 11
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.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Kevin Johnson serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $254,647.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Sergio Holling is a Investigator III, Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $254,467.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Cameron Gomez works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Cameron earned $253,964 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jessica Lester works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Jessica earned $253,876 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Gonzalo Villanueva works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Gonzalo earned $253,030 in 2025.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Jacquelyn Edwards holds the role of Investigator III, Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $252,537.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Shahan Boghigian works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Shahan earned $252,163 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Ellin Gurvitch works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Ellin earned $252,126 in 2025.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Robert Calabuig works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Public Defender. Robert earned $252,103 in 2025.
Information Technology Supervisor/Public Defender
Frank Kim is a Information Technology Supervisor at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $250,264.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Rochelle Tunstall holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $250,175.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Patrick Kingsley serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $249,503.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Darius Bell is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $249,276.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Molly Kort serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $249,041.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Nancy Camarena serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $248,286.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Brenna Carpenter is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $248,197.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Shahane Hakobyan is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $248,160.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Rosalie Derrett serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $248,031.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Anna Aran holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $247,833.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Nestor Torres is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $247,593.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Danielle Humphrey-Iddrissu is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $247,279.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Liv Donnadieu is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $247,067.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Salvador Garcia holds the role of Investigator III, Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $246,997.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Amy Huberman is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $246,910.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Srdjan Lakobrija works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Srdjan earned $246,712 in 2025.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Troy Shin serves as a Investigator III, Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $246,660.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Kristie Morris works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Kristie earned $246,434 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Elizabeth Ligon serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $246,160.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Danielle Cappy serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $245,950.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Kalsoom Tremazi serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $245,803.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Heather Landicho serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $245,618.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Nancy Bassali is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $245,082.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jonathan Althaus works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Jonathan earned $244,955 in 2025.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Gregory Stone is a Investigator III, Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $244,095.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Rebekah Merrill-Callaway works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Rebekah earned $243,854 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Daniel Navarro holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $243,152.