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

Christie Hopper

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,428

Sub-department: JD-24-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,428
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,428
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,369
Employee ID: 500809

Christie Hopper holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-24-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $124,428.

William Hickman

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-08-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 713596

William Hickman works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-08-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. William earned $124,308 in 2026.

Brittney Johnson

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-16-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Hollis

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 391138

Brittney Johnson works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-16-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Brittney earned $124,308 in 2026.

Elizabeth Jones

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 537108

Elizabeth Jones works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Elizabeth earned $124,308 in 2026.

John Schweri

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-32-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 638619

John Schweri holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-32-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $124,308.

Brantley Stewart

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: H

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 395787

Brantley Stewart works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Brantley earned $124,308 in 2026.

Teresa Campbell

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-22-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Brewer

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 603766

At Public Defenders Conference, Teresa Campbell serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-22-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $124,308.

Jon Hatfield

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-13-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Douglas

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 506821

Jon Hatfield is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-13-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $124,308.

Stephanie Hazlewood

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-09-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 433770

Stephanie Hazlewood holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-09-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $124,308.

Brandon Kibert

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-03-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 632796

Brandon Kibert works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-03-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Brandon earned $124,308 in 2026.

Sueanna Passolt

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-10-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 463422

Sueanna Passolt holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-10-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $124,308.

Mattea Rolin

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-17-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 724607

At Public Defenders Conference, Mattea Rolin serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-17-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $124,308.

Elizabeth Williams

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$124,308

Sub-department: JD-11-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $124,308
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,308
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,359
Employee ID: 511123

Elizabeth Williams works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-11-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Elizabeth earned $124,308 in 2026.

Jeremy Armstrong

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-29-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 624709

Jeremy Armstrong works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-29-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Jeremy earned $119,940 in 2026.

Kendall Jones

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: Appellate Division
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Fisher Stivers

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 447783

At Public Defenders Conference, Kendall Jones serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Appellate Division. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $119,940.

Tessa Lunceford

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-02-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 143860

Tessa Lunceford is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-02-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $119,940.

Samuel Weaver

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 464731

At Public Defenders Conference, Samuel Weaver serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $119,940.

Jonathan Wilson

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-11-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 613148

Jonathan Wilson holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-11-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $119,940.

Matthew Edwards

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-25-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 494771

Matthew Edwards holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-25-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $119,940.

William Evans

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-08-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 611717

At Public Defenders Conference, William Evans serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-08-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $119,940.

Robert Koewler

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-19-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 446563

Robert Koewler works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-19-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Robert earned $119,940 in 2026.

Jamie Lowrance

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-25-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 368630

Jamie Lowrance is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-25-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $119,940.

Emily Roberts

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-11-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 617969

Emily Roberts works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-11-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Emily earned $119,940 in 2026.

Gregory Thorne

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-19-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 626049

At Public Defenders Conference, Gregory Thorne serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-19-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $119,940.

Timothy Wilson

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$119,940

Sub-department: JD-10-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $119,940
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,940
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $9,995
Employee ID: 513957

Timothy Wilson holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-10-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $119,940.