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 23
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
K'Yanna Wesley holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $137,899.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Leslie Mendoza holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $137,858.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Richard Schoonover works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Richard earned $137,814 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Liliana Miramontes Jauregui works as a Psychiatric Social Worker II for Public Defender. Liliana earned $137,660 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Janet Hernandez works as a Legal Office Support Assistant II for Public Defender. Janet earned $137,626 in 2025.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Larissa Adams serves as a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant. Their 2025 pay totaled $137,027.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Roxanne Thompson is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $136,872.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Lusine Hovhannisyan holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $136,697.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Melody Silva serves as a Psychiatric Social Worker II. Their 2025 pay totaled $136,662.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Maria Lopez holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $136,649.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Ana Morales holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $136,546.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Genia Wheeler works as a Legal Office Support Assistant II for Public Defender. Genia earned $136,516 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Keelyanne Hyland is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $136,503.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Cameron Stinewoods works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Cameron earned $136,436 in 2025.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Jacqueline Hidalgo holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $136,241.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Elenora Williams Denson is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $136,205.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Leslie Rozner serves as a Psychiatric Social Worker II. Their 2025 pay totaled $136,132.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Ronald Rome works as a Legal Office Support Assistant II for Public Defender. Ronald earned $135,351 in 2025.
Senior Departmental Personnel Assistant/Public Defender
Minoja Herrera is a Senior Departmental Personnel Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $135,303.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Sheryl Fears serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $135,257.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Melanie Lopez works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Melanie earned $135,042 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Azniv Gasparyan holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $134,868.
Application Developer II/Public Defender
Roscoe Johnson holds the role of Application Developer II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $134,621.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Axel Galliazzi is a Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $134,370.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Jose Aldana Jr holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $134,323.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Olivia Wyatt is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $134,162.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Annette Borzakian serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $134,135.
Warehouse Worker III/Public Defender
Robert Dickerson Jr is a Warehouse Worker III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $133,825.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Diana Hovhannisyan serves as a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant. Their 2025 pay totaled $133,756.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Demetria Miller holds the role of Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $132,925.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Latoya Reid works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Latoya earned $132,364 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Stacy Matthews holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $132,138.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Krystal Fernandez is a Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $131,972.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Jason Marks is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $131,859.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Linda Eby holds the role of Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $131,552.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Brandy Elder serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $131,338.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Michael Salmaggi is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $131,248.
Management Analyst/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jonnathan Benites-Bernardini serves as a Management Analyst. Their 2025 pay totaled $131,152.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Rocio Barrantes holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $131,036.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Allison Roberts works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Allison earned $130,531 in 2025.