Kentucky Government Staff Attorney Salaries - Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) Attorneys Paid Far Lower Than Other Attorneys

Sep 4, 2026

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This document analyzes the salary discrepancies for staff attorneys in Kentucky state government, specifically focusing on the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA). It highlights that DPA attorneys are paid significantly less than their counterparts in other executive branch agencies and local prosecutor offices, despite often having more experience. The analysis breaks down salaries for the highest-paid and lower-paid attorneys, revealing that among the 200 highest-paid staff attorneys, only 2% work for the DPA, while 50% are prosecutors and 48% are in other agencies. Conversely, 55% of the 504 lower-paid staff attorneys work for the DPA, with only 45% in non-DPA roles. The average salary for a DPA staff attorney is $51,745, which is 18% less than other staff attorneys in state government. Data on a typical DPA staff attorney's career progression shows a substantial salary gap compared to similar roles in other state agencies, with an experienced DPA attorney earning an average of $58,008 compared to $63,978 in other agencies, representing a 10% difference. Additionally, the average months of service for experienced DPA attorneys is 176 months, significantly higher than the 124 months for those in other agencies, leading to a much lower pay per month of service for DPA attorneys. The document implicitly argues for better compensation and retention strategies for public defenders to address this crisis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Kentucky Government Staff Attorney Salaries

Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) Attorneys Paid Far Lower Than Other Attorneys

Of the 704 Staff Attorneys Funded by State Government, 281 (40%) work for the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA). DPA attorneys are paid far lower than other attorneys in government.

Other Executive Branch Attorneys

Attorneys Who Formerly Worked for DPA

Local Prosecuting Attorneys (excluding elected officials)

Of the 200 HIGHEST-PAID GOVERNMENT STAFF ATTORNEYS, 50% ARE PROSECUTORS, 48% ARE IN OTHER AGENCIES, AND ONLY 2% WORK FOR DPA

Of the 504 LOWER-PAID STATE GOVERNMENT STAFF ATTORNEYS, 55% WORK FOR DPA, ONLY 45% ARE NON-DPA

Average Salary

Non-DPA Government Staff Attorney - $62,844

On Average, DPA Staff Attorneys Are Paid 18% Less Than Other Staff Attorneys In State Government.

DPA Staff Attorney - $51,745

STATE GOVERNMENT FULL-TIME STAFF ATTORNEY POSITIONS

Other Executive Branch Agencies 207 29%

Local Prosecutor Offices 216 31%

DPA 281 40%

200 LOWEST-PAID STATE GOVERNMENT STAFF ATTORNEYS

DPA 69.5%

Local Prosecutor Offices 25%

Other Executive Branch Agencies 5.5%

FAQs

What is the primary issue addressed by this document regarding Kentucky government staff attorneys?

The document addresses the crisis of the Public Defender system's inability to retain experienced attorneys due to significantly lower salaries compared to other government legal positions.

How do the salaries of Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) attorneys compare to those in other state government agencies?

DPA attorneys are paid substantially less. For experienced attorneys (Staff Attorney IIIs), the average salary at DPA is $58,008, which is 10% lower than the average of $63,978 in other executive branch agencies. Furthermore, DPA attorneys with over 176 months of service earn significantly less per month than their counterparts in other agencies.

What percentage of the highest-paid and lowest-paid staff attorneys work, or have worked, for the DPA?

Among the 200 highest-paid staff attorneys, only 2% work for the DPA. In contrast, a much larger proportion, 55%, of the 504 lower-paid staff attorneys work for the DPA.

What is the average salary for DPA staff attorneys compared to other staff attorneys in state government?

On average, DPA staff attorneys are paid 18% less than other staff attorneys in state government, with DPA staff attorneys earning an average of $51,745.

Sep 4, 2026

Uploaded by Melati