Public Defender Jobs
Open Positions3 live
Hiring a Public Defender? Reach attorneys and legal staff looking for their next law firm role.
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3 open jobs
BLS Pay Range
$78,360–$351,600
OverviewLearn more about the public defender career path →
What Does a Public Defender Do?
A public defender represents people charged with crimes who cannot afford a private lawyer, working for a county, state or federal defender office.
Caseloads are often heavy, and the job offers early, frequent courtroom and trial experience.
CompensationSee the full salary breakdown →
Public Defender Salary
National Median
$159,670
10th–90th Percentile
$78,360–$351,600
BLS publishes no separate wage for public defenders; this is all lawyers (SOC 23-1011), every practice area and employer type. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1011 Lawyers. BLS pay excludes overtime and the self-employed.
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Related Roles
Criminal Defense AttorneyA criminal defense attorney represents people charged with crimes.Browse jobs →ProsecutorA prosecutor is a government lawyer who brings criminal cases on behalf of the public.Browse jobs →Government AttorneyA government attorney is a lawyer employed by a federal, state or local government agency.Browse jobs →