Data received June 2026 • Data comes from MOSERS. Positions and FT/PT status not provided. Data excludes state employees who don't hold benefit-eligible positions.

Full-time employees

720

Median pay

$61,058

Average pay

$65,024

State Public Defender

Employees by pay range

Note: To learn how the Post-Dispatch calculates figures such as the number of full-time employees or median pay, as well as other important explanations and caveats, please see the About page.

Employees

Click on one of the headers below to sort a column. Data shown reflects actual gross pay for 2025, except where noted otherwise.

 

Name

Position Gross pay Date hired
Unthank, Michael Not provided $31,792 Feb. 14, 2023
Vajda, Derek Not provided $23,034 July 16, 2025
Valin, Alexandra Not provided $65,480 May 1, 2024
Van Amburg, Sarah Not provided $55,965 Sept. 12, 2011
Vanholt, Susan Not provided $42,998 Sept. 23, 2010
Vann, Leroy Not provided $36,629 Nov. 20, 2023
Verbick, Beth Not provided $51,407 June 22, 2004
Vibbard, Anthony Not provided $113,579 June 12, 2017
Villalobos, Darlene Not provided $69,771 Dec. 3, 2012
Vineyard, Matthew Not provided $68,086 June 1, 2009
Vize, Nathan Not provided $75,508 Aug. 2, 2021
Vodnansky, Heather Not provided $113,153 March 16, 2005
Wade, Danny Not provided $63,339 July 1, 2024
Walden-Chastain, Desiree Not provided $76,347 March 8, 2022
Waltz, Matthew Not provided $101,153 May 28, 2004
Wang, Pingping Not provided $75,134 Dec. 27, 2022
Warren, Cameron Not provided $62,230 Feb. 13, 2024
Washington, Kenlyn Not provided $26,769 March 17, 2025
Watson, Sara Not provided $130,594 May 1, 2007
Webb, Matthew Not provided $62,995 Oct. 7, 2024
Weber, Wendy Not provided $53,243 July 1, 2024
Weis, Dana Not provided $84,636 Aug. 9, 2000
Weist, Randall Not provided $69,031 Aug. 15, 2022
Welborn, Lauren Not provided $55,769 April 3, 2006
Wellock, Sean Not provided $75,508 Sept. 8, 2020
Wentzel, Kirstyn Not provided $55,153 Sept. 29, 2016
West, Kyle Not provided $54,883 Oct. 24, 2016
West, Robert Not provided $73,563 Sept. 5, 2017
Westfall, Sarah Not provided $85,906 July 22, 2019
Whipple, Keegan Not provided $86,329 May 15, 2017
White, Ryan Not provided $86,228 Dec. 29, 2014
Whitney, Susan Not provided $27,864 May 13, 2024
Wiederholt, Lindey Not provided $82,190 May 26, 2020
Wiegert, David Not provided $101,763 Jan. 26, 2012
Wilcox, Lori Not provided $42,998 April 2, 2007
Wilcoxson, Melody Not provided $50,929 Aug. 12, 1996
Wilhite, Pamela Not provided $52,769 July 26, 1999
Wilks, Julian Not provided $67,744 May 23, 2022
Williams, John Not provided $46,115 Aug. 14, 2023
Williams, Ryan Not provided $110,405 Aug. 14, 2017
Willis, James Not provided $98,744 April 20, 2015
Willis, Sonya Not provided $33,341 Oct. 16, 2023
Wilson, Deborah Not provided $67,415 Sept. 6, 2022
Wilson, Joseph Not provided $29,095 Jan. 7, 2019
Wilson, Melissa Not provided $50,256 Aug. 16, 2024
Wilson, Rodney Not provided $91,996 April 3, 2017
Wilson, Shawna Not provided $50,989 Nov. 2, 2015
Wilson, Tabias Not provided $23,129 Aug. 25, 2025
Winka Nordmann, Rebecca Not provided $100,671 Sept. 5, 2006
Wobig, Grant Not provided $93,349 April 9, 2012

Note: To learn how the Post-Dispatch calculates figures such as the number of full-time employees or median pay, as well as other important explanations and caveats, please see the About page.