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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

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

Attorney III
18 · $167,542
Attorney Supervisor
16 · $192,971
Attorney IV
10 · $186,501
Attorney
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.

YearTotal payrollEmployeesMedian 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.

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Joanne Kirchner

Attorney IV/State Public Defender

2025 total comp
$155,896
Base pay
$155,546
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$350
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$155,896
Employment type
Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit
R02
Work county
Sacramento
Middle name
M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay
$12,593
Cs/csu
Cs
Position Number
4260155780031
Salary Total
$13,397
Total Pay
$155,896

At State Public Defender, Joanne Kirchner serves as a Attorney IV. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $155,896. Union affiliation: R02.

Gary Johnston

Attorney IV/State Public Defender

2024 total comp
$155,823
Base pay
$155,473
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$350
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$155,823
Employment type
Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit
R02
Work county
Sacramento
Middle name
D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay
$13,514
Cs/csu
Cs
Position Number
4260155780036
Salary Total
$13,514
Total Pay
$155,823

Gary Johnston works as a Attorney IV for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Gary earned $155,823 in 2024. They are represented by 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.

Inga Nelson

Attorney Supervisor/State Public Defender

2025 total comp
$151,122
Base pay
$150,922
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$200
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$151,122
Employment type
Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit
S02
Work county
Alameda
Middle name
K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay
$13,922
Cs/csu
Cs
Position Number
4260155749024
Salary Total
$13,279
Total Pay
$151,122

Inga Nelson works as a Attorney Supervisor for State Public Defender. Their status is full-time. Inga earned $151,122 in 2025. They are represented by S02.

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.