Tennessee / Public Defenders Conference / Assistant Public Defender

Job-title file

Assistant Public Defender

Provide administrative support — record-keeping, scheduling, correspondence, and customer service.

288 employees hold this title in Public Defenders Conference. Median total compensation for the role is $133,236, above the department median of $106,596.

Employees: 288
Total payroll: $38M
Role median: $133,236
Agency median: $106,596
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$34,320$185,724+

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

How total compensation varies among the 288 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Assistant Public Defender pay vs. Tennessee

Across all employers in Tennessee, the median wage for Lawyers — about 9,010 people — is $136,180. Public Defenders Conference pays a median base salary of $133,236 for this role, 2% below that figure — about the 48th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Public Defenders Conference sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$76,510

$98,750

$136,180

$198,470

$324,880

Public Defenders Conference median · $133,236

The bar is the range of annual wages for Lawyers across every employer in Tennessee, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Public Defenders Conference’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Lawyers — about 754,500 people — is $159,670. Public Defenders Conference’s median base salary is 17% below that national figure, about the 38th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

Public Defenders Conference median · $133,236

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Tennessee range relative to the national one.

Median total compensation for this role at Public Defenders Conference is $133,236, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare jurisdictions

Assistant Public Defender beyond Tennessee

This role is reported in 6 jurisdictions. In Tennessee, the median of $133,236 ranks #2 of 6. See Assistant Public Defender across all of Tennessee →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$513,588 · 8

$63,121 · 579

$54,640 · 267

$37,440 · 35

Cook County, Illinois

$26,404 · 508

Median total compensation for comparable Assistant Public Defenderroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Catherine Burnett

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-19-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Marie

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 714048

Catherine Burnett is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-19-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $115,488.

Amanda Cherry

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-22-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 544479

Amanda Cherry works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-22-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Amanda earned $115,488 in 2026.

Matthew Harrison

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-02-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Tyler

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 462491

Matthew Harrison works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-02-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Matthew earned $115,488 in 2026.

Michael Howard

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-23-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Tyler

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 621753

Michael Howard works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-23-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Michael earned $115,488 in 2026.

James Patterson

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-18-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Arlie

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 662420

James Patterson holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-18-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $115,488.

Shannon Holt

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Jean

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 519428

Shannon Holt holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $115,488.

Willis Mckee

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-14-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 498648

Willis Mckee works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-14-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Willis earned $115,488 in 2026.

Melissa Owens

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 589174

Melissa Owens works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Melissa earned $115,488 in 2026.

Benjamin Stallard

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-09-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: David

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 664552

Benjamin Stallard works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-09-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Benjamin earned $115,488 in 2026.

Zachary Talbot

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$115,488

Sub-department: JD-23-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $115,488
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,488
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Louis

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,624
Employee ID: 667340

At Public Defenders Conference, Zachary Talbot serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-23-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $115,488.

James Landstreet

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$114,400

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $114,400
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,400
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Middle name: Collins

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $55
Employee ID: 401116

James Landstreet holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is part-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $114,400.

Jacquelyn Burke Carroll

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-10-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 599241

Jacquelyn Burke Carroll works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-10-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Jacquelyn earned $111,012 in 2026.

Jenae Easterly

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 582085

Jenae Easterly works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Jenae earned $111,012 in 2026.

Raymond Jones

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-15-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Douglas

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 488439

Raymond Jones is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-15-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $111,012.

Wendal Norris

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-09-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Joseph

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 488083

Wendal Norris is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-09-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $111,012.

Mitchell Raines

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: Appellate Division
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 568183

Mitchell Raines holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Appellate Division. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $111,012.

Winston Davis

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-15-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 643144

At Public Defenders Conference, Winston Davis serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-15-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $111,012.

Donald Irwin

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-21-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 626687

Donald Irwin is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-21-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $111,012.

Hannah Pieterse

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 713073

At Public Defenders Conference, Hannah Pieterse serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $111,012.

Andrew Vodden

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$111,012

Sub-department: JD-02-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $111,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,012
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,251
Employee ID: 603141

At Public Defenders Conference, Andrew Vodden serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-02-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $111,012.