City and County of San Francisco / Public Defender

Agency file

Public Defender

Source file: City and County of San Francisco — Employee Compensation / ingested Jun 17, 2026

The Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2025, this agency had 250 employees with median total compensation of $202,487; the highest distinct record was $403,576.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $54.7M
Employees: 250
Median total: $202,487
Highest record: $403,576

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$3,436$377,856+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 250 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($202,487) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $163,313 (75%)
Overtime — $166 (0%)
Other — $1,352 (1%)
Benefits — $53,842 (25%)

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.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$119,216

$151,643

$202,487

$282,409

$348,663

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $348,663 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $119,216. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)

108 · $262,504

Legal Assistant

35 · $153,177

Senior Public Defenders Invstgtor

16 · $198,123

Head Attorney Civil & Criminal

15 · $365,930

Court Alternative Specialist 1

13 · $138,963

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.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2024	$52M —	252 —	$199,423 —
2025	$54.7M ▲ 5.1%	250 ▼ 0.8%	$202,487 ▲ 1.5%

Compare

Similar departments

Departments elsewhere with the most similar mix of roles — a proxy for the same kind of agency, matched by workforce composition rather than name. Pay is not cost-of-living adjusted.

Office of Public Utility Counsel Texas80% match
Office of Administrative Law California75% match
City Attorney City and County of San Francisco74% match
District Attorney Allegheny County, Pennsylvania66% match
Public Defender Council, Georgia Georgia65% match
Attorney General's Office South Carolina62% match

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Dushan Henderson

Social Worker/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$127,389

Sub-department: Human Services
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $88,793
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $929
Benefits: $37,666
Total compensation: $127,389
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.89

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $17,832
Job Code: 2910
Job Family Code: 2900
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,628

Dushan Henderson is a Social Worker at Public Defender within Human Services. They work permanent civil service, 0.89 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $127,389. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Kim Chan

Senior Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$127,090

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $87,322
Overtime: $540
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $39,228
Total compensation: $127,090
Employment type: Temporary Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,953
Job Code: 8108
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,438

Kim Chan holds the role of Senior Legal Process Clerk at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is temporary exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $127,090. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Mary Muao

Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$126,634

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $84,478
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,600
Benefits: $39,556
Total compensation: $126,634
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,953
Job Code: 8106
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,798

Mary Muao is a Legal Process Clerk at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. 2025 total compensation came to $126,634. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Debora Warren

Public Defender's Investigator/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$124,696

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $71,775
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $23,801
Benefits: $29,120
Total compensation: $124,696
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.56

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $10,362
Job Code: 8142
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,406

Debora Warren works as a Public Defender's Investigator for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service, 0.56 FTE. Debora earned $124,696 in 2024. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Kento Sasaki

Senior Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$124,585

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $84,989
Overtime: $515
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $39,082
Total compensation: $124,585
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,953
Job Code: 8108
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,632

At Public Defender, Kento Sasaki serves as a Senior Legal Process Clerk within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $124,585. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Arash Razavi

Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$123,420

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $84,478
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $38,942
Total compensation: $123,420
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,953
Job Code: 8106
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,566

At Public Defender, Arash Razavi serves as a Legal Process Clerk within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $123,420. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Carrie Yu

Human Resources Analyst/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$123,048

Sub-department: Personnel
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $83,370
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $720
Benefits: $38,957
Total compensation: $123,048
Employment type: Temporary Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,546
Job Code: 1241
Job Family Code: 1200
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,486

Carrie Yu holds the role of Human Resources Analyst at Public Defender within Personnel. Their status is temporary exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $123,048. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Nayansey Curiel

Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$122,533

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $82,875
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $900
Benefits: $38,758
Total compensation: $122,533
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,953
Job Code: 8106
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,490

Nayansey Curiel works as a Legal Process Clerk for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service. Nayansey earned $122,533 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Kelsey Ryburn

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$121,530

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $85,585
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $35,945
Total compensation: $121,530
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.44

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $17,096
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,525

Kelsey Ryburn is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 0.44 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $121,530. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Niquelle Warren

Senior Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$119,216

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $81,218
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $37,999
Total compensation: $119,216
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,953
Job Code: 8108
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,104

At Public Defender, Niquelle Warren serves as a Senior Legal Process Clerk within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $119,216. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Nayansey Curiel

Senior Clerk/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$118,967

Sub-department: Clerical, Secretarial & Steno
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $80,999
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $37,968
Total compensation: $118,967
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1.04

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,294
Job Code: 1406
Job Family Code: 1400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,272

Nayansey Curiel is a Senior Clerk at Public Defender within Clerical, Secretarial & Steno. They work permanent civil service, 1.04 FTE. 2024 total compensation came to $118,967. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Diane Lopez

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$113,214

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $76,604
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,380
Benefits: $35,230
Total compensation: $113,214
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.92

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $18,341
Job Code: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $5,432

Diane Lopez works as a Court Alternative Specialist 1 for Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent civil service, 0.92 FTE. Diane earned $113,214 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.