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Public Defender Salary in Missouri

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

Median Salary in MO
$106,480
Monthly: $8,873
Biweekly: $4,095
Entry Level
$67,524
Monthly: $5,627
Biweekly: $2,597
Senior Level
$149,331
Monthly: $12,444
Biweekly: $5,744
Job Growth
13%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$67,524$106,480$149,331
Monthly$5,627$8,873$12,444
Biweekly$2,597$4,095$5,744
Weekly$1,299$2,048$2,872
Hourly$32$51$72

MO vs National Comparison

National Median
$125,270
MO Median
$106,480
Difference
-$18,790
Multiplier
0.85x
National
MO

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 Missouri compares to other states for public defender salaries:

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Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other legal jobs in Missouri:

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Explore Related Data for a Public Defender in Missouri

Dig into every angle of a public defender salary ($106,480 median) in Missouri — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $106,480 in Missouri

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

What you can afford on $106,480 in Missouri

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

Tax brackets on $106,480 in Missouri

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$450,000 mortgage in Missouri

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 Kansas City

Drill down to city-level salary data for Kansas City, Missouri.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median public defender salary in Missouri?

The median public defender salary in Missouri is $106,480, compared to a national median of $125,270.

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

Entry-level public defender positions in Missouri typically pay around $67,524 annually.

What is the senior public defender salary in Missouri?

Senior public defender professionals in Missouri earn around $149,331 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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