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 24
Paralegal/Public Defender
Joanna Fonseca is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $130,235.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Ani Hernandez serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $129,957.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Alissa Bolen-Ramos is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $129,689.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Jonathan Choi works as a Senior Paralegal for Public Defender. Jonathan earned $129,506 in 2025.
Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Nena Rahman serves as a Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $129,484.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Matthew Henderson is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $129,273.
Public Information Specialist/Public Defender
Denise De La Cruz holds the role of Public Information Specialist at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $129,227.
Network Systems Administrator II/Public Defender
Romik Margarian is a Network Systems Administrator II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $128,962.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Hadley Morris holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $128,839.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Judith Rosete serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $128,306.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Tirui Getekian works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Tirui earned $128,241 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Claudia Boileau-Flores is a Legal Office Support Assistant I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $128,111.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Monique Martinez is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $127,793.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Guadalupe Valle serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $127,682.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Christian Coleman works as a Psychiatric Social Worker I for Public Defender. Christian earned $127,245 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Janet Greenberg works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Janet earned $126,866 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Yvonne Espinoza is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $126,402.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Marena Dieden holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $126,370.
Information Systems Analyst I/Public Defender
Rifat Hasan is a Information Systems Analyst I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $126,359.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Tara Parham is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $126,318.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Micah Alexander holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $126,235.
Management Analyst/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Amannda Osorio serves as a Management Analyst. Their 2025 pay totaled $126,149.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Gladis Sanchez is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $126,114.
Senior Departmental Personnel Assistant/Public Defender
Claudia Padilla holds the role of Senior Departmental Personnel Assistant at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $125,861.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Armen Bazikian serves as a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant. Their 2025 pay totaled $125,817.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Guillermo Escalona is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $125,442.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Tenaya Thornberry is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $124,948.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Kanesha Thomas works as a Legal Office Support Assistant I for Public Defender. Kanesha earned $124,888 in 2025.
Senior Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Razi Reynaldi works as a Senior Legal Office Support Assistant for Public Defender. Razi earned $124,577 in 2025.
Information Systems Analyst I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Yongfan Chen serves as a Information Systems Analyst I. Their 2025 pay totaled $124,521.
Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Luisa Lardizabal serves as a Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $124,416.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Patricia Ysabel Maglabe is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $124,375.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Antoinette Rogers serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $123,896.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Tiffany Martin works as a Legal Office Support Assistant II for Public Defender. Tiffany earned $123,527 in 2025.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Nudhapongse Wongsriphorn is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $123,363.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Ester Mendez holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $123,209.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Monica Torres holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $123,171.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Maria Funez serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $122,998.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Monica Gutierrez works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Monica earned $122,691 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Amy Quinonez is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $122,532.