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Public Defender Salary in Massachusetts

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

Median Salary in MA
$152,829
Monthly: $12,736
Biweekly: $5,878
Entry Level
$96,917
Monthly: $8,076
Biweekly: $3,728
Senior Level
$214,334
Monthly: $17,861
Biweekly: $8,244
Job Growth
13%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$96,917$152,829$214,334
Monthly$8,076$12,736$17,861
Biweekly$3,728$5,878$8,244
Weekly$1,864$2,939$4,122
Hourly$47$73$103

MA vs National Comparison

National Median
$125,270
MA Median
$152,829
Difference
+$27,559
Multiplier
1.22x
National
MA

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 Massachusetts compares to other states for public defender salaries:

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Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other legal jobs in Massachusetts:

Lawyer (Attorney)ParalegalLegal SecretaryJudge

Explore Related Data for a Public Defender in Massachusetts

Dig into every angle of a public defender salary ($152,829 median) in Massachusetts — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $152,829 in Massachusetts

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

What you can afford on $152,829 in Massachusetts

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

Tax brackets on $152,829 in Massachusetts

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$600,000 mortgage in Massachusetts

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

Retirement at 30 earning $150,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

Public Defender salary in Boston

Drill down to city-level salary data for Boston, Massachusetts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median public defender salary in Massachusetts?

The median public defender salary in Massachusetts is $152,829, compared to a national median of $125,270.

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

Entry-level public defender positions in Massachusetts typically pay around $96,917 annually.

What is the senior public defender salary in Massachusetts?

Senior public defender professionals in Massachusetts earn around $214,334 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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