California / State Public Defender / Attorney III

Job-title file

Attorney III

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

22 employees hold this title in State Public Defender. Median total compensation for the role is $154,243, above the department median of $113,709.

Employees: 22
Total payroll: $3.3M
Role median: $154,243
Agency median: $113,709
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$33,838$194,855+

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

How total compensation varies among the 22 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

Attorney III pay vs. California

Across all employers in California, the median wage for Lawyers — about 95,770 people — is $195,080. State Public Defender pays a median base salary of $154,033 for this role, 21% below that figure — about the 34th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where State Public Defender sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$97,950

$131,120

$195,080

$277,140

$369,180

State Public Defender median · $154,033

The bar is the range of annual wages for Lawyers across every employer in California, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows State Public Defender’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. State Public Defender’s median base salary is 4% below that national figure, about the 48th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

State Public Defender median · $154,033

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 California range relative to the national one.

Median total compensation for this role at State Public Defender is $156,435, 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 departments

This role across California

Attorney III is held in 101 California departments. In State Public Defender, the median of $154,243 ranks #26 of 101.

Highest-paying departments for this role

San Francisco Bay Con&Dev Cm

$178,075 · 1

California State Library

$177,588 · 1

Delta Stewardship Council

$177,413 · 1

CA. Earthquake Authority

$177,238 · 3

Santa Monica Mts Conservancy

$177,238 · 1

State Council on Devl Disabl

$173,135 · 2

CA. Coastal Commission

$172,192 · 7

State Comp Insurance Fund

$168,880 · 156

Real Estate

$167,852 · 18

Rehabilitation

$165,991 · 1

CDCR

$163,704 · 102

Gov Off Bus & Economic Devl

$163,049 · 1

Median total compensation for the Attorney III role in other Californiadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Attorney beyond California

This role is reported in 14 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $150,234 ranks #2 of 14. See Attorney across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City and County of San Francisco

$273,500 · 508

$124,428 · 1,280

$108,190 · 29

$102,516 · 7

$102,000 · 359

$85,943 · 269

$83,880 · 608

Louisville Metro, Kentucky

$80,774 · 7

Median total compensation for comparable Attorneyroles 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

Bethany O'Neill

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$207,360

Base pay: $170,698
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $36,661
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $207,360
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,686
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795065
Salary Total: $13,054
Total Pay: $207,360

Bethany O'Neill holds the role of Attorney III at State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $207,360. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Ray Ibarra

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135795005
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

At State Public Defender, Ray Ibarra serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $177,588. They are represented by R02.

Bridgid-Leigh Brady

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135795002
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

Bridgid-Leigh Brady holds the role of Attorney III at State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $177,588. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Craig Buckser

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795056
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

At State Public Defender, Craig Buckser serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $177,588. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Teresa Deamicis

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135795008
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

At State Public Defender, Teresa Deamicis serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $177,588. They are represented by R02.

Jason Gundel

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135795003
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

Jason Gundel works as a Attorney III for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Jason earned $177,588 in 2025. They are represented by R02.

Valarie Kalb

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795072
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

Valarie Kalb holds the role of Attorney III at State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $177,588. They are represented by R02.

Ashanti Mitchell

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135795001
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

Ashanti Mitchell works as a Attorney III for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Ashanti earned $177,588 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Catherine White

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$177,588

Base pay: $177,238
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $177,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795046
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $177,588

Catherine White is a Attorney III at State Public Defender. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $177,588. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Linda Mcdonald

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$157,497

Base pay: $141,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $16,485
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,497
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,395
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795078
Salary Total: $12,122
Total Pay: $157,497

Linda Mcdonald holds the role of Attorney III at State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,497. Union affiliation: R02.

Jamie Dickson

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$155,543

Base pay: $135,261
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $20,282
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $155,543
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $14,879
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795068
Salary Total: $14,879
Total Pay: $155,543

At State Public Defender, Jamie Dickson serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $155,543. They are represented by R02.

Genevie Gold

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$152,942

Base pay: $152,592
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,942
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,854
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795068
Salary Total: $13,214
Total Pay: $152,942

At State Public Defender, Genevie Gold serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $152,942. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Brooke Mccarthy

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$152,451

Base pay: $152,082
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $369
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,451
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,256
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795067
Salary Total: $12,644
Total Pay: $152,451

At State Public Defender, Brooke Mccarthy serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $152,451. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Carrie Hall

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$149,963

Base pay: $149,613
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $149,963
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,200
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795034
Salary Total: $11,980
Total Pay: $149,963

Carrie Hall works as a Attorney III for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Carrie earned $149,963 in 2025. Union affiliation: R02.

Cristina Najarro

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$146,061

Base pay: $145,711
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $146,061
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,200
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795066
Salary Total: $12,670
Total Pay: $146,061

Cristina Najarro works as a Attorney III for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Cristina earned $146,061 in 2025. They are represented by R02.

Loretta Johnson

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$146,013

Base pay: $139,843
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,170
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $146,013
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,191
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795071
Salary Total: $12,671
Total Pay: $146,013

Loretta Johnson works as a Attorney III for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Loretta earned $146,013 in 2025. They are represented by R02.

Michael Hopper

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$139,888

Base pay: $139,588
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $139,888
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,395
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795076
Salary Total: $12,122
Total Pay: $139,888

Michael Hopper holds the role of Attorney III at State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $139,888. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Inga Nelson

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$138,417

Base pay: $138,042
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $375
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $138,417
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,260
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795077
Salary Total: $12,260
Total Pay: $138,417

Inga Nelson is a Attorney III at State Public Defender. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $138,417. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Tatiana Kline

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$125,499

Base pay: $120,099
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $5,400
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $125,499
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,325
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135795007
Salary Total: $14,617
Total Pay: $125,499

At State Public Defender, Tatiana Kline serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $125,499. They are represented by R02.

Mark Feeser

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$122,671

Base pay: $122,171
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $122,671
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,153
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795062
Salary Total: $12,153
Total Pay: $122,671

At State Public Defender, Mark Feeser serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $122,671. Union affiliation: R02.

Jason Stebner

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$60,908

Base pay: $57,943
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,965
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,908
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,536
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795062
Salary Total: $11,695
Total Pay: $60,908

At State Public Defender, Jason Stebner serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $60,908. Union affiliation: R02.

Jennifer Hansen

Attorney III/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$33,838

Base pay: $27,052
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,786
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $33,838
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,526
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155795076
Salary Total: $13,526
Total Pay: $33,838

At State Public Defender, Jennifer Hansen serves as a Attorney III. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $33,838. Their bargaining unit is R02.