Lawyers pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $346,830 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Nashville earn between $102,230 and $208,300.
- $82K10th
- $102K25th
- $143KMedian
- $208K75th
- $347K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $172,980 | $14,415 | $83.16 |
| Median | $142,540 | $11,878 | $68.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,230 | $8,519 | $49.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $208,300 | $17,358 | $100.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Lawyers in Nashville earn 6% more than the Tennessee average ($163,870) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $172,980 | $142,540 | $81,890 | $346,830 | 3,990 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $172,980, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $129,498 a year, or $10,791 a month and $4,981 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $172,980 buys what about $179,555 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Nashville: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Nashville?
$83.16 an hour on average, and $68.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Nashville?
About $129,498 a year ($10,791 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $172,980. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do lawyers earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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