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 29
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Julia Abarro serves as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $74,398.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Sandra Allen-Kang is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $73,418.
Paralegal/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Christopher Kodesh serves as a Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $73,180.
Warehouse Worker Aid/Public Defender
Jorge Vasquez holds the role of Warehouse Worker Aid at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $72,382.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Manuel Marin Jr serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $72,198.
Psychiatric Social Worker I/Public Defender
Ricardo Lopez is a Psychiatric Social Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $71,963.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Miriam Singer holds the role of Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $71,910.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Jessica Garcia holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $71,860.
Senior Law Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Justin Rankin serves as a Senior Law Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $71,668.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Jenny Salgado is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $71,270.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Gilbert Mares Jr serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $70,955.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Kevin Bland holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $70,725.
Senior Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Nicholas Lidster serves as a Senior Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $70,087.
Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender
Andrea Wyrick holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,792.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
James Bruns is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $69,120.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Alfonso Oliva Ii is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $68,825.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Alice Mc Vicker works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Alice earned $67,362 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
William Heath is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $66,826.
Administrative Services Manager I/Public Defender
Clyde Juloya is a Administrative Services Manager I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $66,251.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Janet Araujo holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $65,723.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
Joaquin Rodriquez Jr is a Investigator III, Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $65,579.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Magdalena Mirisch-Krueger serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $65,247.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Ellen Bresticker holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $64,915.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Eric Stanford serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $64,838.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Tami Warren serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $64,418.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Daniel Choi is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $64,255.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Cassie Tadeo Godina serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $63,476.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Emma La Crue holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $62,945.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Robin Berkovitz is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $62,315.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Carole Telfer works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Carole earned $61,245 in 2025.
Psychiatric Social Worker II/Public Defender
Matthew Penesa holds the role of Psychiatric Social Worker II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $61,179.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
David Canas holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $61,168.
Senior Law Clerk/Public Defender
Clarence Moore is a Senior Law Clerk at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $61,119.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Amrita Patil holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $60,951.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Gabriella Jackson works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Gabriella earned $60,538 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Josephine Miller-Merino is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $59,837.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Epifanio Llanos Jr is a Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $59,269.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Jocelyn Gutierrez is a Legal Office Support Assistant I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $59,226.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Evan Freed is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $59,104.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Ronald Whitenhill holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $58,722.