▼18%
$61,760
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$42k
MEDIAN
$62k
90%
$98k
The average salary for a Public Defender is $61,760 in 2025
Base Salary
$42k - $98k
Bonus
$526 - $15k
Profit Sharing
$2k - $5k
Total Pay
$42k - $103k
Is Average Public Defender Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Public Defenders?
What Do Public Defenders Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
How do Public Defenders Rate Their Jobs?
We 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
Medical
93%
Dental
80%
Vision
67%
None
7%
Gender Breakdown for Public Defenders
Female
66.7%
Male
33.3%
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 $98k / year
What is the lowest pay for Public Defenders?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Public Defender is $42k / 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.