Public Defender Salary in Carson, CA

How much does a Public Defender make in Carson, CA?

As of June 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Defender in Carson, CA is $110,986 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

However, a Public Defender's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $132,148
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $98,217 to $122,063
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,592
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View as table View as graph 25% $98,217 10% $86,592 90% $132,148 75% $122,063 $110,986 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Public Defender Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $122,063 $10,172 $2,347 $59
Average $110,986 $9,249 $2,134 $53
25th Percentile $98,217 $8,185 $1,889 $47
Check out Public Defender Job Openings in Carson, CA
Associate Attorney

The County of El Dorado - Cameron Park, CA

Trial Paralegal

Federal Public Defender, Central District of California - Los Angeles, CA

Travel CVOR Tech

Focus Staff - RAPID CITY, SD

Travel CCU RN

Focus Staff - LEBANON, NH

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Key Factors That Influence Public Defender Salaries

A Public Defender's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Public Defender Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Public Defender's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $110,172
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $146,253
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $206,575
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $235,197
  • Expert (over 8 years): $279,111
Levels Salary
Public De... Level Public Defender$110,172
Attorney ... Level Public Defender$146,253
Attorney ... Level Public Defender$206,575
Attorney ... Level Public Defender$235,197
Attorney ... Level Public Defender$279,111
$110,172 0 yr
$146,253 < 2 yrs
$206,575 2-4 yrs
$235,197 5-8 yrs
$279,111 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Public Defenders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $127,908
  • San Francisco: $126,508
  • Oakland: $123,842

What Skills Can Increase a Public Defender's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 5.65% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Estate Planning (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging, during a person's life, for the management and disposal of that person's estate during the person's life and at and after death, while minimizing gift, estate, generation skipping transfer, and income tax. Estate planning includes planning for incapacity as well as a process of reducing or eliminating uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximizing the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. The ultimate goal of estate planning can be determined by the specific goals of the client, and may be as simple or complex as the client's needs dictate. Guardians are often designated for minor children and beneficiaries in incapacity. The law of estate planning overlaps to some degree with elder law, which additionally includes other provisions such as long-term care.
  • Employment Law (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 5.65%
Estate Planning 2.37%
Employment Law 1.49%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Public Defender's salary.
  • Legal Advice: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Legal Advice
 $116,535
5%
Intellectual Property
 $115,426
4%
Due Diligence
 $114,316
3%
Negotiating
 $114,316
3%
Analysis
 $114,316
3%
Employment Law
 $114,316
3%
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Public Defender Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Public Defender's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on June 01, 2026
$98,217
Average $110,986/year
$122,063
$8,185
Average $9,249/month
$10,172
$1,889
Average $2,134/week
$2,347
$47
Average $53/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $122,063 $10,172 $2,347 $59
Average $110,986 $9,249 $2,134 $53
25th Percentile $98,217 $8,185 $1,889 $47

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Cost of Living In Carson, CA

Cost of Living in Carson, CA is
36.7% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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