How Much Does a Chief Public Defender Make in South Carolina?

Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Chief Public Defender in South Carolina is $69,236. While Salary.com is seeing that Chief Public Defender salary in SC can go up to $105,854 or down to $57,946, but most earn between $63,326 and $88,403. 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
Public Defender
$98,713
South Carolina
Per Year
Assistant Public Defender
$98,713
South Carolina
Per Year
Deputy Public Defender
$98,713
South Carolina
Per Year
Federal Public Defender
$61,849
South Carolina
Per Year
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Similar Job Salaries to Chief Public Defender by Company

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Company average base salary in (usd) range
Richland County Government
Public Defender Attorney I
$129,953/yr
$116,701
$143,205
RANGE: $116,701 - $143,205
Brown County
Chief Public Defender
$139,188/yr
$124,712
$153,663
RANGE: $124,712 - $153,663
County of Santa Cruz
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR
$133,988/yr
$119,707
$148,269
RANGE: $119,707 - $148,269
County of Mason (WA)
Chief Public Defender
$153,051/yr
$137,135
$168,967
RANGE: $137,135 - $168,967
Santa Cruz County, CA
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR
$196,582/yr
$174,575
$218,589
RANGE: $174,575 - $218,589
Clark County
Assistant Chief Public Defender - Office of Public Defense
$161,172/yr
$144,821
$177,524
RANGE: $144,821 - $177,524
State of Maryland
Chief of Labor and Employment Assistant Public Defender, Supervisor
$171,985/yr
$152,732
$191,238
RANGE: $152,732 - $191,238
$121,244/yr
$108,635
$133,852
RANGE: $108,635 - $133,852
Chenango County
Public Defender
$82,083/yr
$73,244
$90,921
RANGE: $73,244 - $90,921
$134,835/yr
$121,085
$148,584
RANGE: $121,085 - $148,584

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Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Chief Public Defender Jobs in South Carolina

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 South Carolina. 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 South Carolina. Rock Hill takes first place in this list, followed by Charleston, North Charleston. The Chief Public Defender salary is $71,209 in Rock Hill, which is lower than the national average. There is 0 city's Chief Public Defender salary higher than national average in South Carolina.
The average salary for a Chief Public Defender in South Carolina is $69,236, but we found that the city with the highest salary for Chief Public Defender jobs is Rock Hill, SC, and it is higher than Charleston. Chief Public Defender jobs in Rock Hill can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in South Carolina.
CITY ANNUAL SALARY MONTHLY PAY WEEKLY PAY HOURLY WAGE
Rock Hill $71,209 $5,934 $1,369 $34
Charleston $70,167 $5,847 $1,349 $34
North Charleston $70,167 $5,847 $1,349 $34
Mount Pleasant $70,167 $5,847 $1,349 $34
Goose Creek $70,064 $5,839 $1,347 $34
Summerville $69,857 $5,821 $1,343 $34
Spartanburg $68,985 $5,749 $1,327 $33
Greenville $68,379 $5,698 $1,315 $33
Columbia $68,246 $5,687 $1,312 $33
Hilton Head Island $68,239 $5,687 $1,312 $33

What Does a Chief Public Defender Do?

Several countries, including the UK, Hungary and Singapore, and some states of Australia, provide people with public defenders.
Updated December 15, 2021
Public defenders have long been concerned that defendants cannot adequately defend themselves from charges without access to the reports, Rapillo said.
Updated November 23, 2021
Exactly which defendants qualify as "indigent" also varies by jurisdiction: Often a state will stipulate a maximum income threshold above which a defendant is not considered to be indigent, and thus does not qualify for a public defender.
Updated November 01, 2021
Another issue that arises from the lower numbers of public defenders is that the government is forced to rely on alternatives to the public defender system such as private lawyers appointed by the courts.
Updated October 09, 2021
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

Frequently Asked Questions About a Chief Public Defender Salaries

What is the average of a Chief Public Defender in South Carolina?

The Chief Public Defender salary range is from $63,326 to $88,403, and the average Chief Public Defender salary is $69,236/year in South Carolina. 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.