Santa Barbara County Public Defender
3.8
Glassdoor Rating
55+
Total Staff
32+
Attorneys
12,000+
Annual Caseload
1
Open Positions
About
Serves Santa Barbara County including Santa Maria. Strong bilingual attorney demand.
Strategic Career Intelligence
Specializations
Career Pathways
Experience Value
Desirable Central Coast location with strong demand for bilingual attorneys. Multi-courthouse practice across Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc provides varied courtroom experience.
Specialty Courts
Holistic Defense Services
Open Positions(1)
View AllDeputy Public Defender
Salary Ranges
| Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $90,000-$108,000 |
| Mid-Career | $112,000-$140,000 |
| Senior | $145,000-$175,000 |
| Leadership | $182,000-$242,000 |
Budget & Funding Intelligence
Total Budget
$16M
Primary Sources
2025-01-01
Figures cited: $16M total PD budget
Budget Trend
= StableWell-funded coastal county with stable budget. High demand for bilingual attorneys reflects growing Spanish-speaking population in Santa Maria and Lompoc.
Quick Info
- County
- Santa Barbara
- Region
- Central Coast
- Case Management
- JusticeTrax
- Caseload/Attorney
- ~375
- Phone
- (805) 568-3470
- Website
- Visit
Union Representation
Non-union workplace
Benefits
- CalPERS Retirement
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- PSLF-Eligible
- Paid CLE
- Generous PTO
Funding Sources
- Santa Barbara County General Fund
- State Subvention (AB 2302)
- Federal grants
Find Your Role Here
Take a quick career screener to see how well you match with Santa Barbara County Public Defender and get personalized role suggestions.
Take Career ScreenerReady to Defend Those Who Need It Most?
Whether you're an attorney looking for your next role, building your defense career, or an office with positions to fill — we're here to connect you.