The Average Salary of a Public Defender
Public defenders represent people who can't afford to hire an attorney on their own. Public defenders are assigned by the court and are paid by the government. They earn average to better-than-average salaries, which are increased in most cases by annual bonuses. Many factors influence a public defender's salary.
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Average Salary
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According to national information available at Payscale, public defenders earn between $41,000 and $68,000. Annual bonuses add to that amount by $1,000 to $5,000. These amounts are subject to where the defender works, how long he's been in the business, what state he works in and several other factors.
Salary by Employer
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Public defenders working directly for the federal government tend to command the highest wages with a salary range of $45,000 to $137,000. Defenders working for their local or state government can earn as much as $66,000 a year.
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Salary by State
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The state a public defender practices law in also has a bearing on his income. California has the highest wages, ranging from $56,000 to $102,000. In Washington state, he can expect to earn between $40,000 to $75,000. In New York, he can make as much as $59,000 and in Pennsylvania, where wages are currently the lowest, according to Payscale, public defenders earn between $41,000 and $49,000 a year.
Job Outlook
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth rate for public defenders is expected to be on level with other jobs. The Bureau anticipates a 13 percent growth in jobs between 2008 and 2018. Job growth is due mostly to an increased demand in legal services in areas including healthcare, bankruptcy, antitrust law and intellectual property. Competition for the occupation, though, is quite high.
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References
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