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
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Assist Public Defender IV/Public Defender
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Richard Tavares Jr holds the role of Assist Public Defender IV at Public Defender. In 2024, their total compensation was $73,241.
Assist Public Defender II/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Klara Kim holds the role of Assist Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,821.
Assistant Public Defender III/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Piper Pehrson serves as a Assistant Public Defender III. Their 2024 pay totaled $69,381.
Investigator I/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Bianca Rodriguez serves as a Investigator I. Their 2024 pay totaled $67,654.
Investigator I/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Infiniti Allen serves as a Investigator I. Their 2025 pay totaled $65,241.
Social Services Caseworker/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Mckayla Phillips is a Social Services Caseworker at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $63,642.
Assistant Public Defender/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Anne Travers holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2026, their total compensation was $63,069.
Assist Public Defender IV/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Kerri Schulz serves as a Assist Public Defender IV. Their 2024 pay totaled $59,726.
Case Management Coor/Public Defender
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Raina Silva holds the role of Case Management Coor at Public Defender. In 2024, their total compensation was $59,330.
Staff Attorney II/Public Defender
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Klara Kim works as a Staff Attorney II for Public Defender. Klara earned $57,875 in 2024.
Investigator I/Public Defender
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Ronald Amoroso holds the role of Investigator I at Public Defender. In 2024, their total compensation was $56,795.
Administrative Secretary/Public Defender
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Eric Houle works as a Administrative Secretary for Public Defender. Eric earned $55,033 in 2024.
Administrative Secretary/Public Defender
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Sunshine Tillinghast works as a Administrative Secretary for Public Defender. Sunshine earned $54,103 in 2024.
Legal Secretary I/Public Defender
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April Hilliker holds the role of Legal Secretary I at Public Defender. In 2024, their total compensation was $51,497.
Legal Secretary I/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Neishka Roldan is a Legal Secretary I at Public Defender. 2024 total compensation came to $50,743.
Administrative Secretary/Public Defender
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Jamie Tattrie is a Administrative Secretary at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $50,677.
Legal Secretary I/Public Defender
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Jessica Liriano holds the role of Legal Secretary I at Public Defender. In 2024, their total compensation was $46,654.
Assist Public Defender IV/Public Defender
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At Public Defender, Alexus Bonilla serves as a Assist Public Defender IV. Their 2024 pay totaled $46,582.
Administrative Secretary/Public Defender
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Kaitlyn Maynard is a Administrative Secretary at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $46,539.
Deputy Public Defender/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Michelle Alves serves as a Deputy Public Defender. Their 2026 pay totaled $45,359.
Assistant Public Defender/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, John Cotoia serves as a Assistant Public Defender. Their 2026 pay totaled $43,959.
Deputy Public Defender/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Kara Maguire holds the role of Deputy Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2026, their total compensation was $43,199.