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 5
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Walid Kandeel works as a Deputy Public Defender IV for Public Defender. Walid earned $332,157 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Larissa Cesareo serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $330,255.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Ryan Jay Bulosan serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $328,474.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Rebecca Meyer is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $328,262.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Joanna Fernandez works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Joanna earned $326,829 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Kareen Akry is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $326,669.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Nga Tu-Mendoza is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $326,333.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Sampda Kedia serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $326,133.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Dana Flaum is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $325,449.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Max Fantozzi works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Max earned $325,408 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Sarah Soher holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $325,314.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Alison Klein is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $324,832.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Guillermo Arevalo-Farias holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $324,460.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Derek Dillman serves as a Deputy Public Defender IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $324,266.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Angelo Tarallo serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $324,069.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Mitra Donde holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $323,926.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Carla Casillas serves as a Deputy Public Defender IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $323,916.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Yajahira Mercado works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Yajahira earned $323,845 in 2025.
Supervisor's Deputy IV/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Dana Boldt serves as a Supervisor's Deputy IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $323,446.
Administrative Deputy II (Uc)/Public Defender
Jon Trochez is a Administrative Deputy II (Uc) at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $323,437.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Rebecca Rayburn works as a Deputy Public Defender IV for Public Defender. Rebecca earned $322,523 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Melissa Mammenga is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $322,516.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Richard Ewell is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $322,392.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Keisha Holland is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $322,343.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Saewon Yang serves as a Deputy Public Defender IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $322,245.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Alison Brown is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $321,702.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jose Ruvalcaba works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Jose earned $321,303 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Dennis Yamamoto works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Dennis earned $321,233 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jacqueline Brand serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $321,198.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Robert Krauss is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $321,071.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Nina Poladian is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $320,822.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Omar Boyan holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $320,179.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Erin Muse is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $320,013.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Sarah Weil Reback serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $319,723.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Christopher Burnham works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Christopher earned $319,562 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Jinelle Brand is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $319,321.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Christina Sarkiss serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $319,174.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Keyvan Shakeri serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $319,170.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Rubenia Mejia is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $318,957.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Anne Goldin serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $318,949.