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

Alejandra Ramirez

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$236,489

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $175,789
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $60,700
Total compensation: $236,489
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,199
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,446

Alejandra Ramirez holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt, 1.04 FTE. In 2024, their total compensation was $236,489. They are represented by Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Zachary Waterman

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$234,994

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $175,159
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $59,834
Total compensation: $234,994
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,986

Zachary Waterman works as a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) for Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. Zachary earned $234,994 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Christina Dominguez

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$234,458

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $169,378
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $8,446
Benefits: $56,634
Total compensation: $234,458
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.87

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $18,988
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,509

Christina Dominguez is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 0.87 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $234,458. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Maria Cruz

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$233,375

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $173,353
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $60,023
Total compensation: $233,375
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,435

At Public Defender, Maria Cruz serves as a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt. Their 2025 pay totaled $233,375. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Lauren Burrus-Fikes

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$232,694

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $173,353
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $59,342
Total compensation: $232,694
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,754

Lauren Burrus-Fikes holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $232,694. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Leo Fissel

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$232,392

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $172,521
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $59,871
Total compensation: $232,392
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,402

Leo Fissel holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $232,392. They are represented by Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Sarah Hashemi

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$232,179

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $172,780
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $59,399
Total compensation: $232,179
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.98

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $21,435
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,384

At Public Defender, Sarah Hashemi serves as a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 0.98 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $232,179. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Maggie Gaan

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$227,420

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $168,444
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,976
Total compensation: $227,420
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,080

Maggie Gaan holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $227,420. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Luis Savalza

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$227,299

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $168,321
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,978
Total compensation: $227,299
Employment type: Temporary Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $13,100

At Public Defender, Luis Savalza serves as a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) within Legal & Court. They work temporary exempt. Their 2025 pay totaled $227,299. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Deidra Moss

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$226,453

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $167,993
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,460
Total compensation: $226,453
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,857
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,714

Deidra Moss is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt. 2025 total compensation came to $226,453. They are represented by Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Brandon Coleman

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$225,186

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $167,068
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,117
Total compensation: $225,186
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,772
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,584

Brandon Coleman holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt, 0.99 FTE. In 2025, their total compensation was $225,186. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Elly Leggatt

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$224,159

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $165,807
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,353
Total compensation: $224,159
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,833

Elly Leggatt holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $224,159. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Bruce Calderon

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$223,957

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $165,917
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,041
Total compensation: $223,957
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,506

Bruce Calderon is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt. 2025 total compensation came to $223,957. They are represented by Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Charles Balara

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$223,714

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $165,665
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,049
Total compensation: $223,714
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,549

Charles Balara is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt. 2025 total compensation came to $223,714. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Charles Dickson

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$223,442

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $165,978
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $57,463
Total compensation: $223,442
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.98

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $21,519
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,334

Charles Dickson is a Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 0.98 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $223,442. Their bargaining unit is Municipal Attorneys Assoc.

Ondina Lipney-Burger

Attorney (Civil/Criminal)/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$222,020

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $164,004
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $58,016
Total compensation: $222,020
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Municipal Attorneys Assoc
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: $21,941
Job Code: 8177
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $12,753

Ondina Lipney-Burger holds the role of Attorney (Civil/Criminal) at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent exempt. In 2025, their total compensation was $222,020. Union affiliation: Municipal Attorneys Assoc.