Bottom quarter
$89K
Public Defender Salary in Austin
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$105K
Top quarter
$123K
Top 10%
$142K
Adjusted for Austin at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Public Defender in Austin pulls a median of $105,000 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $122,850 and the top 10% at $141,750. Austin sits at 1.05× the national average for pay. If you're up for review, the right ask sits at the top quarter of the band: $122,850.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$122,850 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$113,925 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$105,000 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Public Defender elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.