Chief Public Defender Salaries in District of Columbia
How Much Does a Chief Public Defender Make in District of Columbia?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Chief Public Defender in District of Columbia is $81,812.
While Salary.com is seeing that Chief Public Defender salary in DC can go up to $125,082
or down to $68,471, but most earn between $74,829 and $104,461.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Chief Public Defender
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Similar Job Salaries to Chief Public Defender by Company
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| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
County of Mason (WA)
Chief Public Defender
|
$153,051/yr
|
RANGE: $137,135 - $168,967
|
|
Clark County Washington
Senior Public Defender - Clark County Public Defense
|
$162,370/yr
|
RANGE: $145,582 - $179,158
|
|
Jackson County
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER/ADMINISTRATOR
|
$160,371/yr
|
RANGE: $143,190 - $177,552
|
|
Santa Cruz County, CA
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR
|
$196,582/yr
|
RANGE: $174,575 - $218,589
|
|
County of Santa Cruz
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR
|
$133,988/yr
|
RANGE: $119,707 - $148,269
|
|
Clark County
Assistant Chief Public Defender - Office of Public Defense
|
$161,172/yr
|
RANGE: $144,821 - $177,524
|
|
National Assoc of Counties
Chief Public Affairs Officer
|
$231,916/yr
|
RANGE: $206,514 - $257,319
|
|
American Parkinson Disease Association
Chief Public Policy Officer
|
$155,715/yr
|
RANGE: $137,609 - $173,822
|
|
State of Maryland
Chief of Labor and Employment Assistant Public Defender, Supervisor
|
$171,985/yr
|
RANGE: $152,732 - $191,238
|
|
University of the District of Columbia
Chief of Police/ Director of Public Safety
|
$95,849/yr
|
RANGE: $84,312 - $107,386
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Chief Public Defender Jobs in District of Columbia
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Chief Public Defender can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Chief Public Defender job salaries in District of Columbia.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Chief Public Defender jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Chief Public Defender positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Chief Public Defender salary is higher than other cities in District of Columbia.
Washington takes first place in this list.
The Chief Public Defender salary is $81,812 in Washington,
which is higher than the national average. There is 1 city's Chief Public Defender salary higher than national average in District of Columbia.
The average salary for a Chief Public Defender in District of Columbia is $81,812,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Chief Public Defender jobs is Washington, DC.
Chief Public Defender jobs in Washington can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in District of Columbia.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| Washington | $81,812 | $6,818 | $1,573 | $39 |
What Does a Chief Public Defender Do?
In jurisdictions where the public defender is a government agency, public defenders are generally on the same or similar pay-scale to prosecutors.
Updated December 22, 2021
A good example of such an issue is when Louisiana public defenders were so underfunded, had such a large shortage, and had a huge excessive workload that the office was forced to put defendants in need of a public defender on a waiting list.
Updated December 20, 2021
Mayer Goldman, back in the heydays of the public defender program, questioned what should happen if the public defender represents a guilty defendant.
Updated December 19, 2021
Several countries, including the UK, Hungary and Singapore, and some states of Australia, provide people with public defenders.
Updated December 15, 2021
In the federal criminal court system and some states and counties, representation is through a publicly funded public defender office.
Updated December 14, 2021
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Chief Public Defender Salaries
What is the average of a Chief Public Defender in District of Columbia?
The Chief Public Defender salary range is from $74,829 to $104,461, and the average Chief Public Defender salary is $81,812/year in District of Columbia.
The Chief Public Defender's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Chief Public Defender salary in the United States?
The Chief Public Defender salary in San Jose, CA is $93,199
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Chief Public Defender's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Chief Public Defender.
What is the growth rate of the Chief Public Defender's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Chief Public Defender or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Chief Public Defender.
