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Public Defender Salary in Michigan

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

Median Salary in MI
$115,248
Monthly: $9,604
Biweekly: $4,433
Entry Level
$73,085
Monthly: $6,090
Biweekly: $2,811
Senior Level
$161,629
Monthly: $13,469
Biweekly: $6,217
Job Growth
13%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$73,085$115,248$161,629
Monthly$6,090$9,604$13,469
Biweekly$2,811$4,433$6,217
Weekly$1,405$2,216$3,108
Hourly$35$55$78

MI vs National Comparison

National Median
$125,270
MI Median
$115,248
Difference
-$10,022
Multiplier
0.92x
National
MI

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 Michigan compares to other states for public defender salaries:

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Compare salaries for other legal jobs in Michigan:

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Explore Related Data for a Public Defender in Michigan

Dig into every angle of a public defender salary ($115,248 median) in Michigan — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $115,248 in Michigan

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

What you can afford on $115,248 in Michigan

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

Tax brackets on $115,248 in Michigan

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$450,000 mortgage in Michigan

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

Retirement at 30 earning $120,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

Public Defender salary in Detroit

Drill down to city-level salary data for Detroit, Michigan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median public defender salary in Michigan?

The median public defender salary in Michigan is $115,248, compared to a national median of $125,270.

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

Entry-level public defender positions in Michigan typically pay around $73,085 annually.

What is the senior public defender salary in Michigan?

Senior public defender professionals in Michigan earn around $161,629 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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