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 27
Senior Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Christine Johnson works as a Senior Typist-Clerk for Public Defender. Christine earned $106,178 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Vanessa Ramirez serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant I. Their 2025 pay totaled $105,998.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Vanessa Jovel is a Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $105,925.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Patricia Hughes serves as a Deputy Public Defender IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $105,802.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Sarah Parker works as a Legal Office Support Assistant I for Public Defender. Sarah earned $105,408 in 2025.
Account Clerk I/Public Defender
Lusine Saponjian works as a Account Clerk I for Public Defender. Lusine earned $105,275 in 2025.
Management Assistant/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Roshawn Davis serves as a Management Assistant. Their 2025 pay totaled $104,986.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Albert Padilla holds the role of Intermediate Typist-Clerk at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $104,942.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Kam Lee serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant I. Their 2025 pay totaled $104,326.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Craig Osaki works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Craig earned $104,306 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Cecibel Rodriguez serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant I. Their 2025 pay totaled $103,732.
Interpreter/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Yasmin Torres serves as a Interpreter. Their 2025 pay totaled $103,676.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Mariela Elvir serves as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $103,672.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Tamara Padilla serves as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $102,989.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Annie Tran is a Legal Office Support Assistant I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $102,749.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Chelsea Reeves holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $102,719.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Evelyn Nolasco Rodriguez is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $102,381.
Senior Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Stephanie Palacios serves as a Senior Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $102,356.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Ruby Son works as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk for Public Defender. Ruby earned $102,035 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Rima Petrosyan works as a Legal Office Support Assistant I for Public Defender. Rima earned $102,002 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Erica Arnold works as a Legal Office Support Assistant I for Public Defender. Erica earned $101,679 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Beau Hickman serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant I. Their 2025 pay totaled $100,660.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Kevin West works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Kevin earned $99,837 in 2025.
Supervising Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Pamela Sommers serves as a Supervising Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $99,645.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Tierra King serves as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $99,582.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Laura Navas serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant I. Their 2025 pay totaled $99,510.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Norma Espino holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $99,468.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Gabriel Abebe serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $99,274.
Senior Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Pablo Sanchez works as a Senior Typist-Clerk for Public Defender. Pablo earned $99,025 in 2025.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Shirley Velasquez is a Intermediate Typist-Clerk at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $98,675.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Alexandra Oliva is a Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $98,606.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Colin Threlkeld holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $98,346.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Erica Smith serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant I. Their 2025 pay totaled $97,795.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Ashli Hart works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Ashli earned $97,551 in 2025.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Kimberly Fisher serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $97,531.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Salina Astorga is a Intermediate Typist-Clerk at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $97,212.
Interpreter/Public Defender
Erick Salazar holds the role of Interpreter at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $97,151.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Paola Galindo is a Legal Office Support Assistant I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $96,814.
Senior Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Cassandra Leoni holds the role of Senior Typist-Clerk at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $96,724.
Accounting Technician I/Public Defender
Jackeline Lombardi holds the role of Accounting Technician I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $96,657.