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 4

Curtis Draves

Public Defender's Investigator/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$165,530

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $117,718
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $46,252
Total compensation: $165,530
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: 8142
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,761

Curtis Draves is a Public Defender's Investigator at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. 2025 total compensation came to $165,530. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Catherine Uong

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$165,219

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $116,837
Overtime: $2,502
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $45,881
Total compensation: $165,219
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1.02

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: $9,157

Catherine Uong is a Legal Assistant at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent exempt, 1.02 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $165,219. They are represented by Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Susan Larsen

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$164,697

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $118,388
Overtime: $245
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $46,065
Total compensation: $164,697
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: $9,111

Susan Larsen holds the role of Legal Assistant at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $164,697. They are represented by Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Zachariah Shaheen

Public Defender's Investigator/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$164,222

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $117,718
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $46,504
Total compensation: $164,222
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: 8142
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $9,242

Zachariah Shaheen is a Public Defender's Investigator at Public Defender within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. 2025 total compensation came to $164,222. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Amanda Perez

Criminal Justice Specialist 2/Public Defender

2024 total comp

$164,162

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $117,931
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $46,231
Total compensation: $164,162
Employment type: Permanent Exempt
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: 8452
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,886

Amanda Perez works as a Criminal Justice Specialist 2 for Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent exempt, 1.04 FTE. Amanda earned $164,162 in 2024. They are represented by SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Lona Kwan

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$163,610

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $117,725
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $45,886
Total compensation: $163,610
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: $9,031

Lona Kwan holds the role of Legal Assistant at Public Defender within Legal & Court. Their status is permanent civil service. In 2025, their total compensation was $163,610. Their bargaining unit is Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Joshua Pak

IT Operations Support Administrative IV/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$162,831

Sub-department: Information Systems
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $118,475
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $44,356
Total compensation: $162,831
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
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: $17,967
Job Code: 1094
Job Family Code: 1000
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,986

Joshua Pak is a IT Operations Support Administrative IV at Public Defender within Information Systems. They work permanent civil service, 0.92 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $162,831. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Valerie Ibarra

Public Information Officer/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$161,432

Sub-department: Pub Relations & Spec Assts
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $115,933
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $45,500
Total compensation: $161,432
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: 1312
Job Family Code: 1300
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,905

At Public Defender, Valerie Ibarra serves as a Public Information Officer within Pub Relations & Specialist Assts. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $161,432. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Melissa Campos

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$160,401

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $115,726
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $44,674
Total compensation: $160,401
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.96

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $18,858
Job Code: 8173
Job Family Code: 8100
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,790

At Public Defender, Melissa Campos serves as a Legal Assistant within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service, 0.96 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $160,401. Union affiliation: Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Nicole Harris

Criminal Justice Specialist 2/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$159,480

Sub-department: Probation & Parole
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $116,846
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $42,634
Total compensation: $159,480
Employment type: Permanent Civil Service
Union / bargaining unit: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.85

Source-specific fields

Data As Of: Jun 14, 2026
Data Loaded At: Jun 15, 2026
Department Code: PDR
Health and Dental Benefits: $16,883
Job Code: 8452
Job Family Code: 8400
Organization Group Code: Public Protection
Other Benefits: $8,603

Nicole Harris works as a Criminal Justice Specialist 2 for Public Defender within Probation & Parole. Their status is permanent civil service, 0.85 FTE. Nicole earned $159,480 in 2025. Union affiliation: SEIU, Local 1021, Misc.

Christopher Koubek

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$153,177

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $109,192
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $43,985
Total compensation: $153,177
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: $8,381

At Public Defender, Christopher Koubek serves as a Legal Assistant within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $153,177. Their bargaining unit is Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.

Karina Castro

Legal Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp

$151,643

Sub-department: Legal & Court
Organization group: Public Protection
Base pay: $106,599
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,560
Benefits: $43,484
Total compensation: $151,643
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: $8,036

At Public Defender, Karina Castro serves as a Legal Assistant within Legal & Court. They work permanent civil service. Their 2025 pay totaled $151,643. Their bargaining unit is Prof & Tech Eng, Local 21.