Lawyers pay range in Cleveland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $263,120 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Cleveland earn between $96,090 and $164,950.
- $74K10th
- $96K25th
- $132KMedian
- $165K75th
- $263K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $147,080 | $12,257 | $70.71 |
| Median | $131,980 | $10,998 | $63.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,090 | $8,008 | $46.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,950 | $13,746 | $79.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Cleveland vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Lawyers in Cleveland earn 10% less than the Tennessee average ($163,870) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $147,080 | $131,980 | $74,020 | $263,120 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $163,870 | $136,180 | $76,510 | $324,880 | 9,010 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Cleveland
On the average salary of $147,080, a single filer in Cleveland takes home about $111,795 a year, or $9,316 a month and $4,300 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Cleveland a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cleveland area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.1), so the average $147,080 buys what about $166,985 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Cleveland ($40,230). A typical home costs $312,380, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Tennessee cities
Cleveland ranks 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($172,980).
- Nashville$172,980
- Chattanooga$170,640
- Jackson$164,680
- Memphis$159,520
- Knoxville$148,910
- Cleveland$147,080
- Kingsport$139,480
- Johnson City$135,460
- Clarksville$132,690
- Morristown$131,540
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Cleveland: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Cleveland?
$70.71 an hour on average, and $63.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Cleveland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Cleveland?
About $111,795 a year ($9,316 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,080. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do lawyers earn more in Cleveland than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Cleveland, TN (17420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.31, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.31).
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