California / State Public Defender

Agency file

State Public Defender

Source file: California — State Employee Compensation (SCO Payroll Data Warehouse, CPRA) / ingested Jul 4, 2026

The State Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2025, this agency had 109 employees with median total compensation of $113,709; the highest distinct record was $224,017.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $12.9M
Employees: 109
Median total: $113,709
Highest record: $224,017

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$1,796$207,360+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 109 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($113,709) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $114,988 (97%)
Overtime — $11 (0%)
Other — $3,227 (3%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

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

$34,263

$74,538

$113,709

$177,588

$195,268

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $195,268 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $34,263. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

18 · $167,542

16 · $192,971

10 · $186,501

6 · $113,613

Staff Services Manager I

6 · $92,989

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 3 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$11.7M —	104 —	$120,733 —
2024	$12.3M ▲ 5.5%	105 ▲ 1.0%	$108,863 ▼ 9.8%
2025	$12.9M ▲ 4.5%	109 ▲ 3.8%	$113,709 ▲ 4.5%

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 Administrative Law California71% match
Office of Public Utility Counsel Texas58% match
Public Defender City and County of San Francisco55% match
Public Defender Council, Georgia Georgia53% match
District Attorney Allegheny County, Pennsylvania50% match
Attorney General's Office South Carolina48% match

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Angelique Phillips

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$9,977

Base pay: $9,227
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $750
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,977
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,046
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $23
Total Pay: $9,977

At State Public Defender, Angelique Phillips serves as a Graduate Student Assistant. They work intermittent. Their 2024 pay totaled $9,977. Their bargaining unit is E.

Jaime Alvarez

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$9,959

Base pay: $9,498
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $461
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,959
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: Y

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,167
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $24
Total Pay: $9,959

At State Public Defender, Jaime Alvarez serves as a Graduate Student Assistant. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $9,959. They are represented by E.

Stephanie Lu

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$9,959

Base pay: $9,498
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $461
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,959
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,167
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $24
Total Pay: $9,959

Stephanie Lu holds the role of Graduate Student Assistant at State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. In 2025, their total compensation was $9,959. Their bargaining unit is E.

Eli Ward

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$9,959

Base pay: $9,498
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $461
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,959
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,167
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $24
Total Pay: $9,959

Eli Ward holds the role of Graduate Student Assistant at State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. In 2025, their total compensation was $9,959. Their bargaining unit is E.

Connor Hurley

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$9,791

Base pay: $9,227
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $563
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,791
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,046
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $23
Total Pay: $9,791

Connor Hurley works as a Graduate Student Assistant for State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. Connor earned $9,791 in 2024. They are represented by E.

Francesca Romero

Staff Services Analyst/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$9,752

Base pay: $9,727
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $25
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,752
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,014
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155157901
Salary Total: $4,864
Total Pay: $9,752

Francesca Romero works as a Staff Services Analyst for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Francesca earned $9,752 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Nicholas Delehanty

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$9,605

Base pay: $8,904
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $701
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,605
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,904
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $23
Total Pay: $9,605

Nicholas Delehanty holds the role of Graduate Student Assistant at State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. In 2024, their total compensation was $9,605. They are represented by E.

Lillian Wood

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$9,414

Base pay: $8,953
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $461
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,414
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,167
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $24
Total Pay: $9,414

Lillian Wood holds the role of Graduate Student Assistant at State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. In 2025, their total compensation was $9,414. Union affiliation: E.

Diana Banh

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$9,257

Base pay: $8,882
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $375
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,257
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,046
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $23
Total Pay: $9,257

Diana Banh is a Graduate Student Assistant at State Public Defender. They work intermittent. 2024 total compensation came to $9,257. They are represented by E.

Laurie Williams

Associate Governmental Program Analyst/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$9,227

Base pay: $9,227
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,227
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,114
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260115393901
Salary Total: $41
Total Pay: $9,227

Laurie Williams is a Associate Governmental Program Analyst at State Public Defender. They work intermittent. 2024 total compensation came to $9,227. Union affiliation: R01.

Deandra Virgen

Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$8,901

Base pay: $8,901
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,901
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $2,982
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154870901
Salary Total: $17
Total Pay: $8,901

Deandra Virgen works as a Student Assistant for State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. Deandra earned $8,901 in 2023. Union affiliation: E.

Heather Democker

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$8,842

Base pay: $8,205
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $637
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,842
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,538
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $20
Total Pay: $8,842

At State Public Defender, Heather Democker serves as a Graduate Student Assistant. They work intermittent. Their 2023 pay totaled $8,842. Their bargaining unit is E.

Thomas Luscombe

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$8,842

Base pay: $8,205
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $637
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,842
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,538
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $20
Total Pay: $8,842

Thomas Luscombe works as a Graduate Student Assistant for State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. Thomas earned $8,842 in 2023. Their bargaining unit is E.

Bennett Cyphers

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$8,826

Base pay: $8,164
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $662
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,826
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,538
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $20
Total Pay: $8,826

At State Public Defender, Bennett Cyphers serves as a Graduate Student Assistant. They work intermittent. Their 2023 pay totaled $8,826. Their bargaining unit is E.

Paul Rock

Graduate Student Assistant/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$8,826

Base pay: $8,164
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $662
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,826
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E
Work county: Alameda

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,538
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260154872901
Salary Total: $20
Total Pay: $8,826

Paul Rock works as a Graduate Student Assistant for State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. Paul earned $8,826 in 2023. Union affiliation: E.

Cynthia Dangberg

Staff Services Manager I/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$8,084

Base pay: $8,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,084
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: S01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,398
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260114800901
Salary Total: $48
Total Pay: $8,084

Cynthia Dangberg holds the role of Staff Services Manager I at State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. In 2023, their total compensation was $8,084. Union affiliation: S01.

Rosalyn Mcfarland

Staff Services Analyst/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$6,070

Base pay: $6,070
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $6,070
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,683
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260135157901
Salary Total: $33
Total Pay: $6,070

Rosalyn Mcfarland works as a Staff Services Analyst for State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. Rosalyn earned $6,070 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Dresden Vogt

Office Technician (Typing)/State Public Defender

2023 total comp

$5,994

Base pay: $5,994
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $5,994
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R04
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,470
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260151139018
Salary Total: $3,470
Total Pay: $5,994

At State Public Defender, Dresden Vogt serves as a Office Technician (Typing). They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $5,994. They are represented by R04.

Peter Silten

Attorney Supervisor/State Public Defender

2024 total comp

$5,616

Base pay: $5,616
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $5,616
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: S02
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,701
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260155749901
Salary Total: $91
Total Pay: $5,616

Peter Silten works as a Attorney Supervisor for State Public Defender. Their status is intermittent. Peter earned $5,616 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is S02.

Joseph Toomas

Staff Services Manager I/State Public Defender

2025 total comp

$1,796

Base pay: $1,796
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $1,796
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: E48
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,650
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4260114800901
Salary Total: $50
Total Pay: $1,796

At State Public Defender, Joseph Toomas serves as a Staff Services Manager I. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $1,796. Their bargaining unit is E48.