Arkansas / AR Public Defender Commission / Public Defender I

Job-title file

Public Defender I

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

74 employees hold this title in AR Public Defender Commission. Median total compensation for the role is $47,245, below the department median of $59,625.

Employees: 74
Total payroll: $4.1M
Role median: $47,245
Agency median: $59,625
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$35,514$95,031+

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

How total compensation varies among the 74 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Public Defender I pay vs. Arkansas

Across all employers in Arkansas, the median wage for Lawyers — about 3,430 people — is $98,880. AR Public Defender Commission pays a median base salary of $59,625 for this role, 40% below that figure — about the 17th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where AR Public Defender Commission sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$49,900

$69,470

$98,880

$132,490

$220,660

AR Public Defender Commission median · $59,625

The bar is the range of annual wages for Lawyers across every employer in Arkansas, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows AR Public Defender Commission’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Lawyers — about 754,500 people — is $159,670. AR Public Defender Commission’s median base salary is 63% below that national figure, below the 10th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

AR Public Defender Commission median · $59,625

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Arkansas range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 235 of 236 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at AR Public Defender Commission is $59,625, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare jurisdictions

Public Defender beyond Arkansas

This role is reported in 3 jurisdictions. In Arkansas, the median of $59,625 ranks #3 of 3. See Public Defender across all of Arkansas →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

Florida

$223,318 · 18

Tennessee

$217,056 · 30

Median total compensation for comparable Public Defenderroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Stephen Clark

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 09-02-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184504

Stephen Clark is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 09-02-2025. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Chandra Horton

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 05-01-2023
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095119

Chandra Horton holds the role of Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 05-01-2023. In 2026, their total compensation was $71,027. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Leah Lovell

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 02-17-2026
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184507

Leah Lovell works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 02-17-2026. Leah earned $71,027 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Alexander Moll

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 08-18-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095080

Alexander Moll works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 08-18-2025. Alexander earned $71,027 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Allice Abler

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 10-27-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22177328

Allice Abler is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 10-27-2025. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Lindsay Mast

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 10-27-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095126

Lindsay Mast is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 10-27-2025. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Joshua Smith

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 02-17-2026
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095056

Joshua Smith is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 02-17-2026. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Hannah Scanlon

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 10-14-2024
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22079199

Hannah Scanlon is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 10-14-2024. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Skylar Caldwell

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 10-13-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184499

Skylar Caldwell works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-13-2025. Skylar earned $71,027 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

William Howard

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 11-24-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184491

At AR Public Defender Commission, William Howard serves as a Public Defender I within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 11-24-2025. Their 2026 pay totaled $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Kruz Flesner

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 03-28-2024
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095096

Kruz Flesner holds the role of Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 03-28-2024. In 2026, their total compensation was $71,027. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Leslie Abernathy

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 06-03-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184481

At AR Public Defender Commission, Leslie Abernathy serves as a Public Defender I within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 06-03-2025. Their 2026 pay totaled $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Kelly Troillett

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 09-29-2018
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184485

Kelly Troillett is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 09-29-2018. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Sara Koch

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 11-13-2023
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22079202

Sara Koch holds the role of Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 11-13-2023. In 2026, their total compensation was $71,027. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Nicholas Caffrey

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 02-20-2024
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095084

Nicholas Caffrey is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 02-20-2024. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Hunter Mckenzie

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 06-01-2019
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22077917

Hunter Mckenzie works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 06-01-2019. Hunter earned $71,027 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

David Harris

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 01-05-2022
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095089

David Harris is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-05-2022. 2026 total compensation came to $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Rebekah Neal

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 10-16-2023
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095086

Rebekah Neal works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-16-2023. Rebekah earned $71,027 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Brittney Bond

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 03-15-2024
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184487

Brittney Bond works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 03-15-2024. Brittney earned $71,027 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Christopher Sant

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 01-12-2026
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095051

At AR Public Defender Commission, Christopher Sant serves as a Public Defender I within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-12-2026. Their 2026 pay totaled $71,027. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Kennedy Allen

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$71,027

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $71,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,027
Hire date: 02-17-2026
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095117

Kennedy Allen holds the role of Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 02-17-2026. In 2026, their total compensation was $71,027. Their pay grade is Spc03.