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 12
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Douglas Sweet serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $242,969.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Mercedes Cook holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $242,450.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Ali Siddiqi works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Ali earned $241,978 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Salena Tiet works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Salena earned $241,973 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Meredith Merkin is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $241,822.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Mark Corti serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $241,299.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Guillermina Arambula serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $240,977.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Melissa Fuentes holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $240,215.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Gregory Lawrence serves as a Investigator III, Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $240,198.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Bryan Rowe is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $240,171.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Justin Page is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $239,860.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Christina Sturdevant holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $239,356.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Tony Gomez serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $239,107.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Gegam Petrosyan is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $239,063.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Rhasaan Wilson works as a Investigator III, Public Defender for Public Defender. Rhasaan earned $238,812 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Michelle Loulis holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $238,557.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Elizabeth Cirelli serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $238,537.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Susan Cooley works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Susan earned $238,478 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Zachary Davina is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $238,122.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
David Smith holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $236,507.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Zaruhi Abgaryan works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Zaruhi earned $235,698 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Benjamin Perez serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $235,599.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jimmy Quintana holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $235,531.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Adella Gorgen works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Adella earned $234,927 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jacob Stromin works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Jacob earned $234,642 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Alexandra Trantham holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $234,469.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Carlos Sanchez works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Carlos earned $234,380 in 2025.
Administrative Services Manager II/Public Defender
Anthony Guerrero works as a Administrative Services Manager II for Public Defender. Anthony earned $234,058 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Hannah Ibanez holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $233,949.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Howard Stern is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $233,872.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Nadezhda Habinek is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $233,293.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Paul De Medeiros works as a Investigator III, Public Defender for Public Defender. Paul earned $232,803 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Rosemary Mcclure serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $232,725.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Francis Stewart serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $232,387.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Joseph Ryan holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $231,912.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Peter Schmied holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $231,855.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Mary Dolmadjian is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $231,741.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Bryan Smith holds the role of Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $231,304.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Nashmiyeh Ali-Shalev serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $231,011.
Senior Network Systems Administrator/Public Defender
Jay Bautista works as a Senior Network Systems Administrator for Public Defender. Jay earned $230,532 in 2025.