Average Public Defender Salary in United States
How much does Public defender make in United States?
$88,363 (USD)
per year
$7,364 (USD)
per month
$1,699 (USD)
per week
$340 (USD)
per day
$42 (USD)
per hour
Country average
35% higher
than the $65,470 average of United States.
The average salary for a Public defender in United States in 2023 is $88,363 per year. This comes to $7,364 per month. The top earners receive $147,365 per year, while the bottom earners receive $54,828 per year.
Distribution of Public Defender Salaries
Bottom 25% Salary
$54,828 (USD)
per year
Starting salary or workers with less experience.
Median Salary
$88,363 (USD)
per year
Salary point, where half of the workers earn more and half earn less.
Top 25% Salary
$147,365 (USD)
per year
Most senior and experienced workers.
Compare Public Defender Salaries in Other States
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $143,148 |
| Massachusetts | $108,686 |
| New York | $106,036 |
| Washington | $105,152 |
| California | $104,268 |
| Connecticut | $99,850 |
| New Jersey | $99,850 |
| Maryland | $98,967 |
| Colorado | $97,199 |
| Alaska | $94,548 |
| Virginia | $94,548 |
| Illinois | $91,014 |
| Minnesota | $90,130 |
| Oregon | $90,130 |
| Rhode Island | $90,130 |
| Delaware | $89,247 |
| New Hampshire | $89,247 |
| United States Average | $88,363 |
| Hawaii | $87,479 |
| Arizona | $84,828 |
| Vermont | $84,828 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,945 |
| Georgia | $83,061 |
| Texas | $83,061 |
| Michigan | $82,178 |
| Utah | $82,178 |
| Florida | $81,294 |
| Maine | $81,294 |
| North Carolina | $80,410 |
| Ohio | $80,410 |
| Wisconsin | $80,410 |
| Nevada | $79,527 |
| North Dakota | $79,527 |
| Nebraska | $78,643 |
| Missouri | $77,759 |
| New Mexico | $77,759 |
| Wyoming | $77,759 |
| Indiana | $75,992 |
| Iowa | $75,992 |
| Kansas | $75,992 |
| Tennessee | $75,992 |
| Idaho | $75,109 |
| Montana | $75,109 |
| Kentucky | $73,341 |
| South Carolina | $73,341 |
| Alabama | $72,458 |
| Louisiana | $72,458 |
| Oklahoma | $72,458 |
| South Dakota | $71,574 |
| West Virginia | $70,690 |
| Arkansas | $68,923 |
| Virgin Islands | $68,040 |
| Mississippi | $64,505 |
| Guam | $56,552 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,949 |
About the data
The data on SalaryMonitor.org is sourced from the following sources: the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Eurostat, the Office for National Statistics (UK), the OECD, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Bank. In some cases where the real-world data is missing, the figures are estimated.
FAQ
Salary vs. wage vs. income, what is the difference?
A salary is a fixed annual amount paid to an employee, divided into regular intervals (e.g., monthly or bi-weekly). It doesn't vary based on hours worked, and salaried employees usually don't receive extra pay for overtime. Salaried positions are common in professional and management roles.
A wage is an hourly rate paid to employees based on the number of hours worked. It can fluctuate depending on hours worked, including overtime. Wage-based jobs are often in industries like retail, manufacturing, or labor.
Income refers to the total money earned from various sources, including salary, wages, investments, and passive income. It represents the overall financial earnings over a period, such as monthly or annually. Income can come from employment, business, or other financial assets.
Average vs median salary, what is the difference?
The average is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of salaries. In general, it tends to be skewed by the extremes (very high or very low salaries) and isn't as indicating of what a normal person earns.
The median is the middle point of a salary distribution, where half of the workers earn more and half earn less.