Chief Public Defender Salaries in Michigan
How Much Does a Chief Public Defender Make in Michigan?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Chief Public Defender in Michigan is $72,768.
While Salary.com is seeing that Chief Public Defender salary in MI can go up to $111,254
or down to $60,902, but most earn between $66,557 and $92,913.
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Jackson County
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER/ADMINISTRATOR
|
$160,371/yr
|
RANGE: $143,190 - $177,552
|
|
Ottawa County, MI
Assistant Public Defender I
|
$127,520/yr
|
RANGE: $114,258 - $140,781
|
|
Calhoun County of Michigan
Assistant Public Defender
|
$135,316/yr
|
RANGE: $121,244 - $149,388
|
|
County of Marquette
Assistant Public Defender
|
$134,163/yr
|
RANGE: $119,471 - $148,855
|
|
Vets Hired
Assistant Public Defender FT
|
$128,252/yr
|
RANGE: $114,915 - $141,590
|
|
Ingham County
Assistant Public Defender
|
$133,809/yr
|
RANGE: $119,894 - $147,724
|
|
National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Assistant Public Defender
|
$130,257/yr
|
RANGE: $116,711 - $143,802
|
|
Allegan County
Assistant Public Defender
|
$132,413/yr
|
RANGE: $118,643 - $146,183
|
|
Oakland County
ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER - SENIOR
|
$137,486/yr
|
RANGE: $123,189 - $151,784
|
|
Ingham County, MI
Clerk I - Office of the Public Defender
|
$44,377/yr
|
RANGE: $39,576 - $49,178
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Chief Public Defender Jobs in Michigan
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 Michigan.
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 Michigan.
Ann Arbor takes first place in this list, followed by Canton, Novi.
The Chief Public Defender salary is $74,283 in Ann Arbor,
which is higher than the national average. There are 6 cities' Chief Public Defender salary higher than national average in Michigan.
The average salary for a Chief Public Defender in Michigan is $72,768,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Chief Public Defender jobs is Ann Arbor, MI, and it is higher than Canton.
Chief Public Defender jobs in Ann Arbor can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in Michigan.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| Ann Arbor | $74,283 | $6,190 | $1,429 | $36 |
| Canton | $74,165 | $6,180 | $1,426 | $36 |
| Novi | $73,928 | $6,161 | $1,422 | $36 |
| Detroit | $73,899 | $6,158 | $1,421 | $36 |
| Warren | $73,899 | $6,158 | $1,421 | $36 |
| Dearborn | $73,899 | $6,158 | $1,421 | $36 |
| Dearborn Heights | $73,862 | $6,155 | $1,420 | $36 |
| Royal Oak | $73,817 | $6,151 | $1,420 | $35 |
| Westland | $73,795 | $6,150 | $1,419 | $35 |
| Taylor | $73,780 | $6,148 | $1,419 | $35 |
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 Michigan?
The Chief Public Defender salary range is from $66,557 to $92,913, and the average Chief Public Defender salary is $72,768/year in Michigan.
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.
