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

Angela Lagman

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$143,769

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $101,102
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $42,667
Total compensation: $143,769
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,846

Angela Lagman holds the role of Court Alternative Specialist 1 at Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $143,769. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Luana Silva

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$142,827

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $98,701
Overtime: $721
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $41,844
Total compensation: $142,827
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.99

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $19,349
Job Code: 8173
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,754

At Public Defender, Luana Silva serves as a Legal Assistant within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service, 0.99 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $142,827. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Yu Jian

Senior Payroll & Personnel Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$142,497

Sub-department: Payroll, Billing & Accounting
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $98,581
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $42,356
Total compensation: $142,497
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: 1222
Job Family Code: 1600
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,677

Yu Jian is a Senior Payroll & Personnel Clerk at Public Defender within Payroll, Billing & Accounting. They work permanent civil service. 2025 total compensation came to $142,497. Union affiliation: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Rachel Stober

Criminal Justice Specialist 2/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$141,545

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $101,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $39,996
Total compensation: $141,545
Employment type: Temporary Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.86

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $17,219
Job Code: 8452
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,874

Rachel Stober works as a Criminal Justice Specialist 2 for Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is temporary exempt, 0.86 FTE. Rachel earned $141,545 in 2025. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Michael Brown

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$140,478

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $97,181
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $41,737
Total compensation: $140,478
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,264

Michael Brown holds the role of Court Alternative Specialist 1 at Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $140,478. Their bargaining unit is SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Crystal Lamb

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$140,258

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $105,527
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,493
Benefits: $33,239
Total compensation: $140,258
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.43

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $8,794
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,405

Crystal Lamb is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 0.43 FTE. 2024 total compensation came to $140,258. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Carolina Vargas

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$140,167

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $96,602
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $42,005
Total compensation: $140,167
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,617

Carolina Vargas holds the role of Court Alternative Specialist 1 at Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $140,167. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Michelle Dizon

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$140,138

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $98,270
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $41,867
Total compensation: $140,138
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
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: 8173
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,136

Michelle Dizon works as a Legal Assistant for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service. Michelle earned $140,138 in 2025. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Emma Ward

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$138,963

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $97,181
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $41,781
Total compensation: $138,963
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,539

Emma Ward is a Court Alternative Specialist 1 at Public Defender within Probation & Parole. They work permanent civil service. 2025 total compensation came to $138,963. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Moira Dumo

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$137,356

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $96,094
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $41,262
Total compensation: $137,356
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,178

At Public Defender, Moira Dumo serves as a Court Alternative Specialist 1 within Probation & Parole. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $137,356. Union affiliation: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Evelyn Ang

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$136,904

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $95,901
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $41,003
Total compensation: $136,904
Employment type: Permanent 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: 8173
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,358

Evelyn Ang works as a Legal Assistant for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. Evelyn earned $136,904 in 2025. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Jonathan Mallari

Senior Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$136,589

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $92,608
Overtime: $540
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $41,881
Total compensation: $136,589
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: $8,079

Jonathan Mallari works as a Senior Legal Process Clerk for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service. Jonathan earned $136,589 in 2025. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Daniel Ponce

Senior Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$136,153

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $92,608
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,600
Benefits: $40,945
Total compensation: $136,153
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: $6,991

At Public Defender, Daniel Ponce serves as a Senior Legal Process Clerk within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $136,153. Union affiliation: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Brendan Loftus

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$134,260

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $97,312
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $36,949
Total compensation: $134,260
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.81

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $15,787
Job Code: 8173
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,890

Brendan Loftus works as a Legal Assistant for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service, 0.81 FTE. Brendan earned $134,260 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Robert Sostak

Senior Legal Process Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$133,751

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $92,608
Overtime: $540
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $40,602
Total compensation: $133,751
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: $7,030

Robert Sostak is a Senior Legal Process Clerk at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. 2025 total compensation came to $133,751. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Brian Pearlman

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$132,863

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $71,280
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $36,566
Benefits: $25,016
Total compensation: $132,863
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.28

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $5,692
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,430

At Public Defender, Brian Pearlman serves as a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 0.28 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $132,863. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Lily Tan

Personnel Technician/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$132,717

Sub-department: Personnel
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $92,737
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $39,981
Total compensation: $132,717
Employment type: Temporary Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
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: $18,802
Job Code: 1203
Job Family Code: 1200
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,990

Lily Tan works as a Personnel Technician for Public Defender within Personnel. Their status is temporary exempt, 1.04 FTE. Lily earned $132,717 in 2024. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Gabriella Artero

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$132,100

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $90,038
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $40,502
Total compensation: $132,100
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,081

At Public Defender, Gabriella Artero serves as a Court Alternative Specialist 1 within Probation & Parole. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $132,100. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Nigel Phillips

Senior Public Defenders Invstgtor/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$129,698

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $74,978
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $25,407
Benefits: $29,314
Total compensation: $129,698
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.52

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $10,360
Job Code: 8143
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $7,717

Nigel Phillips works as a Senior Public Defenders Invstgtor for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service, 0.52 FTE. Nigel earned $129,698 in 2025. Union affiliation: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Vanessa Padilla

Court Alternative Specialist 1/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$128,654

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $87,206
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $39,888
Total compensation: $128,654
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: 8446
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,882

Vanessa Padilla holds the role of Court Alternative Specialist 1 at Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $128,654. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Karen Chen

Senior Account Clerk/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$128,327

Sub-department: Payroll, Billing & Accounting
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $88,504
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $39,823
Total compensation: $128,327
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: 1632
Job Family Code: 1600
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $6,857

Karen Chen holds the role of Senior Account Clerk at Public Defender within Payroll, Billing & Accounting. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $128,327. Union affiliation: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.