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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

Mark Feeser

Attorney Supervisor/State Public Defender

2025 total comp
$163,502
Base pay
$163,152
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$350
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$163,502
Employment type
Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit
S02
Work county
Alameda
Middle name
R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay
$13,801
Cs/csu
Cs
Position Number
4260155749028
Salary Total
$14,036
Total Pay
$163,502

At State Public Defender, Mark Feeser serves as a Attorney Supervisor. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $163,502. Union affiliation: S02.

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.

Ann Kim

Attorney IV/State Public Defender

2023 total comp
$156,974
Base pay
$156,424
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$550
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$156,974
Employment type
Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit
R02
Work county
Alameda

Source-specific fields

Base Pay
$13,930
Cs/csu
Cs
Position Number
4260155780017
Salary Total
$13,930
Total Pay
$156,974

Ann Kim is a Attorney IV at State Public Defender. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $156,974. They are represented by R02.