Lawyers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $322,970 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Memphis earn between $88,610 and $199,680.
- $74K10th
- $89K25th
- $134KMedian
- $200K75th
- $323K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,520 | $13,293 | $76.69 |
| Median | $134,440 | $11,203 | $64.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $88,610 | $7,384 | $42.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $199,680 | $16,640 | $96.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Lawyers in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($163,870) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $159,520 | $134,440 | $74,270 | $322,970 | 1,670 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $159,520, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $120,298 a year, or $10,025 a month and $4,627 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $120,298 | $10,025 |
| Working in MS | $114,649 | $9,554 |
| Working in AR | $114,596 | $9,550 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $159,520 buys what about $173,055 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 1.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th 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 Memphis: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Memphis?
$76.69 an hour on average, and $64.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $88,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $120,298 a year ($10,025 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,520. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do lawyers earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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