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 33
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Jasmine Lopez holds the role of Student Professional Worker I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $6,942.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Danielle Lyons works as a Paralegal for Public Defender. Danielle earned $6,865 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Ronald Gomez Diaz holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $6,808.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Elizabeth Pace is a Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $6,388.
Paralegal/Public Defender
Crystal House holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $6,221.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Zigi Kaiser works as a Student Professional Worker I for Public Defender. Zigi earned $6,099 in 2025.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Evelin Morales Fernandez works as a Student Professional Worker I for Public Defender. Evelin earned $5,637 in 2025.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Yilin Cheng is a Student Professional Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $5,614.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Kristen Gozawa serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $5,554.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Robert Mckinnon is a Intermediate Typist-Clerk at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $5,259.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Asya Ovsepyan is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $4,959.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Rhonda Cameron holds the role of Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $2,048.
Senior Law Clerk/Public Defender
Margarita Icaza is a Senior Law Clerk at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $979.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Maria Sebastian is a Student Professional Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $539.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Isabella Del Gaudio is a Student Professional Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $476.
Law Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, John Hagan serves as a Law Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $31.