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 18
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Lauren Espina serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $174,609.
Application Developer I/Public Defender
Victor Wong holds the role of Application Developer I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $174,608.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Daniel Dorantes holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $174,493.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Andrea Ramos is a Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $173,940.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Vincent Chan works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Vincent earned $173,884 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Morgan Bennett works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Morgan earned $173,733 in 2025.
Senior Application Developer/Public Defender
Masha Mathew holds the role of Senior Application Developer at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $173,612.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Michael Bambrick is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $173,478.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Nikole Bordokas serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $173,410.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Elizabeth Morales is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $173,407.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Joseph Vaysman holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $173,218.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Phyllis Kenigsberg is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $172,767.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Michal David serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $172,536.
Management Secretary V/Public Defender
Maria Socorro Ibarrola is a Management Secretary V at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $172,501.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Beatriz Gonzalez is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $172,491.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Jessica Lopez is a Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $172,317.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Brian Gilmartin holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $172,267.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Rohan Garg is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $172,176.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Katelyn Marshall serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $171,954.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Anita Takahashi is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $171,892.
Management Secretary V/Public Defender
Rhonda Chiles is a Management Secretary V at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $171,665.
Administrative Services Manager I/Public Defender
Viviana Jimenez holds the role of Administrative Services Manager I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $171,425.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Blair Ganson works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Blair earned $171,367 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Jeffrey Martin is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $171,333.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jessica Gomez serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $170,997.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Christian Guerra is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $170,855.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Beverly Kim serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $170,804.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
James Baeza works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. James earned $170,599 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Charley Chen is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $170,261.
Res Analyst Iii,Behavioral Sciences/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Erin Morris serves as a Res Analyst Iii,Behavioral Sciences. Their 2025 pay totaled $170,121.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Frank Gonzales works as a Senior Paralegal for Public Defender. Frank earned $169,983 in 2025.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Tremaine White works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Public Defender. Tremaine earned $169,583 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Ariel Wilbur works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Ariel earned $169,483 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Braden Domier is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $168,916.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Sasha Serebryannik holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $168,765.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Brenda Delcid works as a Senior Paralegal for Public Defender. Brenda earned $168,579 in 2025.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Rachel Lee holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $168,243.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Carlos Suarez Hernandez works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Carlos earned $168,232 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Zachary Matthess works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Zachary earned $167,932 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Evan Zemlin-Kisor is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $167,489.