Chief Public Defender Salaries in Tennessee
How Much Does a Chief Public Defender Make in Tennessee?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Chief Public Defender in Tennessee is $69,051.
While Salary.com is seeing that Chief Public Defender salary in TN can go up to $105,572
or down to $57,791, but most earn between $63,157 and $88,167.
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
City of Tulsa
PUBLIC DEFENDER I
|
$129,482/yr
|
RANGE: $116,017 - $142,948
|
|
Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County
Assistant Public Defender- Experienced
|
$131,224/yr
|
RANGE: $117,578 - $144,871
|
|
Shelby County Government
Legal Secretary (Public Defender)
|
$63,671/yr
|
RANGE: $56,678 - $70,665
|
|
National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Assistant Public Defender
|
$128,813/yr
|
RANGE: $115,972 - $141,654
|
|
Brown County
Chief Public Defender
|
$139,188/yr
|
RANGE: $124,712 - $153,663
|
|
County of Santa Cruz
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR
|
$133,988/yr
|
RANGE: $119,707 - $148,269
|
|
County of Mason (WA)
Chief Public Defender
|
$153,051/yr
|
RANGE: $137,135 - $168,967
|
|
Santa Cruz County, CA
CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR
|
$196,582/yr
|
RANGE: $174,575 - $218,589
|
|
National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Federal Public Defender - Middle District of Tennessee
|
$70,418/yr
|
RANGE: $64,589 - $76,247
|
|
National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Federal Public Defender - Western District of Tennessee
|
$69,483/yr
|
RANGE: $63,732 - $75,235
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Chief Public Defender Jobs in Tennessee
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 Tennessee.
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 Tennessee.
Nashville takes first place in this list, followed by Hendersonville, Franklin.
The Chief Public Defender salary is $70,145 in Nashville,
which is lower than the national average. There is 0 city's Chief Public Defender salary higher than national average in Tennessee.
The average salary for a Chief Public Defender in Tennessee is $69,051,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Chief Public Defender jobs is Nashville, TN, and it is higher than Hendersonville.
Chief Public Defender jobs in Nashville can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in Tennessee.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| Nashville | $70,145 | $5,845 | $1,349 | $34 |
| Hendersonville | $70,041 | $5,837 | $1,347 | $34 |
| Franklin | $69,901 | $5,825 | $1,344 | $34 |
| Murfreesboro | $69,628 | $5,802 | $1,339 | $33 |
| Memphis | $69,214 | $5,768 | $1,331 | $33 |
| Germantown | $69,044 | $5,754 | $1,328 | $33 |
| Jackson | $68,697 | $5,725 | $1,321 | $33 |
| Knoxville | $67,795 | $5,650 | $1,304 | $33 |
| Chattanooga | $67,027 | $5,586 | $1,289 | $32 |
| Clarksville | $66,731 | $5,561 | $1,283 | $32 |
What Does a Chief Public Defender Do?
For instance, studies showed that court appointed lawyers had clients with imprisonment times eight months longer, on average, to the clients who had public defenders.
Updated November 09, 2021
The number of public defenders, their salary and other issues related to public defenders have been controversial.
Updated November 05, 2021
The procedures for appointment, re-appointment and other administrative matters vary from circuit to circuit but the Federal Public Defender is appointed for a four-year term.
Updated October 02, 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
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
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Chief Public Defender Salaries
What is the average of a Chief Public Defender in Tennessee?
The Chief Public Defender salary range is from $63,157 to $88,167, and the average Chief Public Defender salary is $69,051/year in Tennessee.
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.
