Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Tennessee make a median of $136,180 a year, or about $65.47 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $325K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $151,682 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 13.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $136K get you in Tennessee?
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for lawyers in Tennessee runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 14% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $325K or more, a $248K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $148K | +8% | 740 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $143K | +5% | 3,990 |
| Memphis | $134K | -1% | 1,670 |
| Jackson | $134K | -2% | 190 |
| Cleveland | $132K | -3% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $127K | -7% | 1,250 |
| Clarksville | $119K | -12% | 160 |
| Johnson City | $117K | -14% | 130 |
| Morristown | $115K | -15% | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $108K | -21% | 300 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 14% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,591/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $136K here vs. $160K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for lawyers?
Tennessee pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Tennessee?
The median is $136,180 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,510, and experienced lawyers can clear $324,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,653/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 14% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $151,682 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.