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 20
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Shelby Enman serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $159,951.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Richelle Sanchez serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $159,872.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Derek Shao serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $159,672.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Natalie Bastawros serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $159,647.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Olena Topor is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $159,483.
Senior Secretary V/Public Defender
Long Huynh works as a Senior Secretary V for Public Defender. Long earned $159,444 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Rachael Denny holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $159,385.
Management Secretary V/Public Defender
Bridgette Bates holds the role of Management Secretary V at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $158,833.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Laniesha Everson is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $158,721.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Roxana Alarcon works as a Psychiatric Social Worker II for Public Defender. Roxana earned $158,234 in 2025.
Management Analyst/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Sevag Apkarian serves as a Management Analyst. Their 2025 pay totaled $158,182.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Lakeisha Waugh holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $158,042.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Matthew Rock holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,826.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Jacob Zimel holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,616.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Briana Watson holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $156,913.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Samuel Babb holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $156,884.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Rebecca Dudeck serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $156,561.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Deborah Stephens holds the role of Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $156,480.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Mark Di Sabatino is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $156,465.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Alexander Taylor holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $156,314.
Management Secretary III/Public Defender
Kevin Shaw is a Management Secretary III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $155,534.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Noah Albert works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Noah earned $155,364 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Steven Nguyen is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $155,151.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Natalie Rojano Jenkins works as a Psychiatric Social Worker II for Public Defender. Natalie earned $155,120 in 2025.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Joel Romero serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $154,864.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Danielle Butler holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $154,666.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Tussanee Reedboon is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $154,063.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Jazmin Padilla works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Jazmin earned $153,933 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Elizabeth Collins holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $153,614.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Edwin Mendez works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Edwin earned $153,012 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Andrew Cometa is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $152,819.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Marisol Alvarez works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Marisol earned $152,536 in 2025.
Senior IT Technical Support Analyst/Public Defender
At Public Defender, David Khella serves as a Senior IT Technical Support Analyst. Their 2025 pay totaled $152,458.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Janet Choy holds the role of Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $152,411.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Hugo Stern holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $151,839.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Robert Alva serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $151,762.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Michael Soto works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Michael earned $151,704 in 2025.
Senior Secretary III/Public Defender
Bonisha Schenck holds the role of Senior Secretary III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $151,648.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Stephane Correa holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $151,111.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Brian Barajas is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $151,039.