Average Public Defender Salary - Payscale

United StatesJobPublic DefenderAverage Public Defender SalaryPayJob DetailsSkillsJob ListingsEmployersHow should I pay?Price a JobWhat am I worth?Find market worth$63,704/ yearAvg. Base Salary (USD)10%$45kMEDIAN$64k90%$107k

The average salary for a Public Defender is $63,704 in 2026

Base Salary$45k - $107kBonus$1k - $20kProfit Sharing$4k - $18kTotal Pay$43k - $107kBased on 93 salary profiles (last updated Dec 05 2025)Is Average Public Defender Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paidUse our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?Location:United States (change)Years in Field/Career:How it works:1Enter city & years of experience2Add pay factors like skills & education3Find your market worth with a report tailored to youEXPLORE BY:CityNew York, NYLos Angeles, CAAtlanta, GALas Vegas, NVSeattle, WAPhoenix, AZSee All CitiesDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »ExperienceEntry LevelEarly CareerMid CareerExperiencedLate CareerDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »SkillCriminalClient InteractionLegal ResearchNegotiationPublic SpeakingWriting Procedures & DocumentationOral / Verbal CommunicationSee All SkillsDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »EmployerPublic Defender ServicesOffice of The Public DefendersSee All EmployersDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »JobProject Manager, (Unspecified Type / General)ParalegalAttorney / LawyerCase ManagerAssociate AttorneyAccount ManagerLegal AssistantTechnical WriterAccount ExecutiveBuyerDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »

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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Public Defenders?

Entry Level▼20%Early Career▼6%Mid Career▲10%Late Career▲11%Experienced▲1%

An entry-level Public Defender with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $50,849 based on 11 salaries. An early career Public Defender with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $59,642 based on 55 salaries. A mid-career …Read more

What Do Public Defenders Do?

Public defenders are lawyers who represent individual defendants for cases ranging from felonies and misdemeanors to traffic cases. Usually, a person must prove to the court the inability to pay a lawyer’s fees, and so the lawyer is paid by the government either as a regular employee or on a per-case basis depending on the needs of the state or municipality.

Public defenders are required to appear in court to represent clients and often manage several trials at once. They should investigate …Read more

Find your market worth – how it works:Enter your job title:

How do Public Defenders Rate Their Jobs?

Not enough data(2)2ReviewsWe currently don't have any reviews for this job and need at least 5 ratings before we can calculate a satisfaction score. Are you a Public Defender? Take our survey to help us meet this goal.

Common Health Benefits for a Public Defender

Medical89%Dental78%Vision67%None11%

Gender Breakdown for Public Defenders

Female55.6%Male44.4%This data is based on 9 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

FAQs About Public Defenders

What is the highest pay for Public Defenders?

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Public Defender is $107k / year

What is the lowest pay for Public Defenders?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Public Defender is $45k / year

How can Public Defenders increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Public Defender is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Public Defender that oversees more junior Public Defenders, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

WHAT AM I WORTH?What your skills are worth in the job market is constantly changing.Job Title:Location:United States (change)