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Public Defender Salary in Kentucky

Explore public defender salaries in Kentucky including median pay, entry-level and senior compensation, and how it compares to the national average.

Median Salary in KY
$103,974
Monthly: $8,665
Biweekly: $3,999
Entry Level
$65,935
Monthly: $5,495
Biweekly: $2,536
Senior Level
$145,818
Monthly: $12,152
Biweekly: $5,608
Job Growth
13%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$65,935$103,974$145,818
Monthly$5,495$8,665$12,152
Biweekly$2,536$3,999$5,608
Weekly$1,268$2,000$2,804
Hourly$32$50$70

KY vs National Comparison

National Median
$125,270
KY Median
$103,974
Difference
-$21,296
Multiplier
0.83x
National
KY

About This Career

Defend individuals accused of crimes who cannot afford private attorneys.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) and Bar license required

Key Skills

Criminal DefenseTrial ExperienceLegal ResearchClient Advocacy

Compare States

See how Kentucky compares to other states for public defender salaries:

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Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other legal jobs in Kentucky:

Lawyer (Attorney)ParalegalLegal SecretaryJudge

Explore Related Data for a Public Defender in Kentucky

Dig into every angle of a public defender salary ($103,974 median) in Kentucky — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $103,974 in Kentucky

Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare — what you keep after taxes.

What you can afford on $103,974 in Kentucky

Home price, rent, and monthly spending guidelines for this income.

Tax brackets on $103,974 in Kentucky

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$400,000 mortgage in Kentucky

Monthly payment, property tax, and total interest at typical rates.

Retirement at 30 earning $100,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

Public Defender salary in Louisville

Drill down to city-level salary data for Louisville, Kentucky.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median public defender salary in Kentucky?

The median public defender salary in Kentucky is $103,974, compared to a national median of $125,270.

What is the entry-level public defender salary in Kentucky?

Entry-level public defender positions in Kentucky typically pay around $65,935 annually.

What is the senior public defender salary in Kentucky?

Senior public defender professionals in Kentucky earn around $145,818 annually.

What is the job growth outlook for public defender?

The projected 10-year job growth outlook for public defender positions is 13%, which indicates strong demand in this field.

What education is needed to become a public defender?

Juris Doctor (JD) and Bar license required

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