Rhode Island / Public Defender
Agency file
The Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.
In 2026, this agency had 109 employees with median total compensation of $23,153; the highest distinct record was $63,069.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
How 2026 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 ($23,153) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.
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.
The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $37,412 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $11,960. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).
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
How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 3 published years.
| Year | Total payroll | Employees | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8.3M — | 123 — | $67,654 — |
| 2025 | $8.7M ▲ 4.8% | 118 ▼ 4.1% | $77,322 ▲ 14.3% |
| 2026 | $2.7M ▼ 69.1% | 109 ▼ 7.6% | $23,153 ▼ 70.1% |
Compare
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
Page 1
Administrative Assistant/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Kathleen Morrison works as a Administrative Assistant for Public Defender. Kathleen earned $14,699 in 2026.
Administrative Secretary/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Lisa Russian Demedina holds the role of Administrative Secretary at Public Defender. In 2026, their total compensation was $14,613.
Case Management Coor/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Sunshine Tillinghast is a Case Management Coor at Public Defender. 2026 total compensation came to $13,773.
Legal Secretary I/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Suzette Cook is a Legal Secretary I at Public Defender. 2026 total compensation came to $13,747.
Investigator II/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Rhiannon Wilbur serves as a Investigator II. Their 2026 pay totaled $13,425.