New Jersey / Office of the Public Defender

Agency file

Office of the Public Defender

Source file: New Jersey — YourMoney State Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

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

In 2024, this agency had 672 employees with median total compensation of $86,980; the highest distinct record was $185,424.

Year: 2024
Total payroll: $60.2M
Employees: 672
Median total: $86,980
Highest record: $185,424

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$223$162,947+

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

How 2024 total compensation is spread across the 672 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($86,980) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $87,991 (98%)
Overtime — $40 (0%)
Other — $1,486 (2%)
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

$45,849

$62,261

$86,980

$115,845

$136,555

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $136,555 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $45,849. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2

175 · $109,634

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr

108 · $74,815

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3

67 · $138,910

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1

56 · $85,071

Legal Secretary 2

56 · $47,864

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 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$57.6M —	720 —	$79,789 —
2024	$60.2M ▲ 4.5%	672 ▼ 6.7%	$86,980 ▲ 9.0%

Record list

Employees

Page 2

Adele Horant

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$44,810

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $44,307
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $502
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,810
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Horant, Adele
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 163801
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $46,332
Year-to-Date Earnings: $44,810

Adele Horant is a Senior Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $44,810. They are represented by Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Nicole Jeffers

Legal Secretary 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$44,800

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $44,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $494
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,800
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Jeffers, Nicole
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 163868
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $49,446
Year-to-Date Earnings: $44,800

Nicole Jeffers holds the role of Legal Secretary 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $44,800. They are represented by Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Grisel Rivera

Legal Secretary 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$44,610

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $44,122
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $488
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,610
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Rivera, Grisel
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 165709
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $49,446
Year-to-Date Earnings: $44,610

At Office of the Public Defender, Grisel Rivera serves as a Legal Secretary 2 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $44,610. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Diane Iapoce

Legal Secretary 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$44,484

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $44,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $484
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,484
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Iapoce, Diane
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 166718
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $49,446
Year-to-Date Earnings: $44,484

At Office of the Public Defender, Diane Iapoce serves as a Legal Secretary 2 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $44,484. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Beatrice Medina

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$44,435

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $43,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $490
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,435
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Medina, Beatrice
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 166138
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $46,332
Year-to-Date Earnings: $44,435

At Office of the Public Defender, Beatrice Medina serves as a Senior Clerk Typist within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $44,435. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Dana Knoetig

Legal Secretary 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,990

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $43,506
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $484
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,990
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Knoetig, Dana
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 167772
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $47,504
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,990

At Office of the Public Defender, Dana Knoetig serves as a Legal Secretary 2 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $43,990. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Mandi Mccullough

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,801

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $43,309
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $491
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,801
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Mccullough, Mandi
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 159816
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $46,332
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,801

Mandi Mccullough is a Senior Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $43,801. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Pamela Harris

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,801

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $43,309
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $491
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,801
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Harris, Pamela E
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 154022
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $46,332
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,801

At Office of the Public Defender, Pamela Harris serves as a Senior Clerk Typist within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $43,801. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Hannah Horbatt

Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,556

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $43,064
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $491
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,556
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Horbatt, Hannah L
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 153108
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $44,733
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,556

Hannah Horbatt holds the role of Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $43,556. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Emily Johnson

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,222

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $38,149
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $5,074
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,222
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Johnson, Emily A
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 171801
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $82,130
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,222

Emily Johnson is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $43,222. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Frances Calderon

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,189

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $42,796
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $393
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,189
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Calderon, Frances
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 162344
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $44,733
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,189

At Office of the Public Defender, Frances Calderon serves as a Senior Clerk Typist within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $43,189. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Chante Rose

Legal Secretary 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$43,151

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $42,597
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $554
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,151
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Rose, Chante
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 15192
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $51,387
Year-to-Date Earnings: $43,151

Chante Rose works as a Legal Secretary 2 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Chante earned $43,151 in 2024. They are represented by Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Brenda Rodriguez

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$42,765

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $41,506
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,258
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $42,765
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Rodriguez, Brenda
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 134015
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $49,528
Year-to-Date Earnings: $42,765

At Office of the Public Defender, Brenda Rodriguez serves as a Senior Clerk Typist within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $42,765. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Thecla Everett

Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$42,586

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $42,110
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $476
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $42,586
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Everett, Thecla
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 162852
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $44,733
Year-to-Date Earnings: $42,586

Thecla Everett holds the role of Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $42,586. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Margaret Moran

Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$42,586

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $42,110
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $476
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $42,586
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Moran, Margaret A
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 165023
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $44,733
Year-to-Date Earnings: $42,586

Margaret Moran holds the role of Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $42,586. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Lissette Rodriguez

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$42,549

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $40,530
Overtime: $1,552
Other pay: $467
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $42,549
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Rodriguez, Lissette
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 154189
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $41,536
Year-to-Date Earnings: $42,549

Lissette Rodriguez works as a Senior Clerk Typist for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Lissette earned $42,549 in 2024. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Denisse Cruz

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$42,332

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $41,865
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $467
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $42,332
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Cruz, Denisse
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 166572
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $44,733
Year-to-Date Earnings: $42,332

Denisse Cruz holds the role of Senior Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $42,332. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Raylee Nieves

Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$41,977

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $41,568
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $409
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,977
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Nieves, Raylee
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 167439
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $43,135
Year-to-Date Earnings: $41,977

Raylee Nieves holds the role of Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $41,977. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Chevonne Newman

Senior Clerk Typist/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$41,656

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $41,154
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $502
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,656
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Newman, Chevonne
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 155332
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $46,332
Year-to-Date Earnings: $41,656

Chevonne Newman holds the role of Senior Clerk Typist at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $41,656. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Janine Faulkner

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2023 total comp

$41,571

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $17,652
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $23,919
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,571
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2023
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Faulkner, Janine
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 13742
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $143,972
Year-to-Date Earnings: $41,571

At Office of the Public Defender, Janine Faulkner serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2023 pay totaled $41,571. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Lisa Waters

Dpty Publ Defndr 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$41,493

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $37,027
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,467
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,493
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Managerial (Represented-Ibew)
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Waters, Lisa
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 142344
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $125,390
Year-to-Date Earnings: $41,493

Lisa Waters holds the role of Dpty Publ Defndr 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $41,493. Their bargaining unit is Managerial (Represented-Ibew).