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 17
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Blaine Shimazu serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $180,019.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Frank Guzman is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $179,979.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Eduardo Cardenas holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $179,034.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Emma Haas works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Emma earned $178,935 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Amethyst Jefferson-Roberts is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $178,559.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Myla Friedman holds the role of Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $178,485.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Llisle Browne works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Public Defender. Llisle earned $178,111 in 2025.
Management Secretary V/Public Defender
Patricia Smith holds the role of Management Secretary V at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $178,093.
Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Marjorie Acosta serves as a Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $177,942.
Network Systems Administrator II/Public Defender
Francisco Ybarra Navarrete is a Network Systems Administrator II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $177,653.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Maria Sim holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $177,644.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Alistair Robertson works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Alistair earned $177,496 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Zoe Juarez is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $177,480.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
James Hollo holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $177,288.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Adele Giraud works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Adele earned $177,268 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Thomas Cotugno works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Thomas earned $177,109 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Stacy Luong holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $177,086.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, David Valdivia serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $177,078.
Supervising Paralegal/Public Defender
Ashley Cormier works as a Supervising Paralegal for Public Defender. Ashley earned $177,011 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Aracely Abarca is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $176,979.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Mark Saleh serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $176,936.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Jesse Fernandez is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $176,928.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Sara Beringer works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Sara earned $176,907 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Alec Watson is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $176,748.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Marc Basurto-Avila holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $176,681.
Administrative Services Manager I/Public Defender
Argineh Ebrahimi works as a Administrative Services Manager I for Public Defender. Argineh earned $176,264 in 2025.
Supervising Paralegal/Public Defender
Lauren Fukai works as a Supervising Paralegal for Public Defender. Lauren earned $176,006 in 2025.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Ana Ayala works as a Senior Paralegal for Public Defender. Ana earned $175,831 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Celebre Fouka-Nganga works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Celebre earned $175,709 in 2025.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Wendy Segoviano serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $175,690.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Nancy Ross works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Nancy earned $175,660 in 2025.
Administrative Services Manager I/Public Defender
Alma Garza-Hernandez works as a Administrative Services Manager I for Public Defender. Alma earned $175,600 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Matthew Gammariello is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $175,383.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Courtney Lamb serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $175,264.
Management Secretary V/Public Defender
Meghan Peterson holds the role of Management Secretary V at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $175,188.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Christopher Smith is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $175,113.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Nico Washington works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Public Defender. Nico earned $175,095 in 2025.
Administrative Services Manager I/Public Defender
Neal Mok works as a Administrative Services Manager I for Public Defender. Neal earned $174,891 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, James Hughes serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $174,791.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Craig Marshall serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $174,654.