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Public Defender Salary in New Jersey

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

Median Salary in NJ
$150,324
Monthly: $12,527
Biweekly: $5,782
Entry Level
$95,328
Monthly: $7,944
Biweekly: $3,666
Senior Level
$210,821
Monthly: $17,568
Biweekly: $8,109
Job Growth
13%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$95,328$150,324$210,821
Monthly$7,944$12,527$17,568
Biweekly$3,666$5,782$8,109
Weekly$1,833$2,891$4,054
Hourly$46$72$101

NJ vs National Comparison

National Median
$125,270
NJ Median
$150,324
Difference
+$25,054
Multiplier
1.20x
National
NJ

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 New Jersey compares to other states for public defender salaries:

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Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other legal jobs in New Jersey:

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Explore Related Data for a Public Defender in New Jersey

Dig into every angle of a public defender salary ($150,324 median) in New Jersey — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $150,324 in New Jersey

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

What you can afford on $150,324 in New Jersey

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

Tax brackets on $150,324 in New Jersey

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$600,000 mortgage in New Jersey

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 Newark

Drill down to city-level salary data for Newark, New Jersey.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median public defender salary in New Jersey?

The median public defender salary in New Jersey is $150,324, compared to a national median of $125,270.

What is the entry-level public defender salary in New Jersey?

Entry-level public defender positions in New Jersey typically pay around $95,328 annually.

What is the senior public defender salary in New Jersey?

Senior public defender professionals in New Jersey earn around $210,821 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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