Lawyers Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Median annual salary $121,510 -19.6% vs national
Median hourly $58.42
10th percentile $62,830
90th percentile —
Employed locally 1,740
National median $151,160

Compare Lawyers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Memphis, TN-MS-AR stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Lawyers
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Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $62,830
    25th
    $81,260
    50th (median)
    $121,510
    75th
    $170,500

    Memphis economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,743 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 188% Median Lawyers salary is 88% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lawyers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $301,320
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $215,090
    Midland, MI $209,430
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $205,900
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $203,450
    California $197,790

    Nearby metros — Lawyers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $143,420
    Clarksville, TN-KY $129,050
    Knoxville, TN $121,020
    Jackson, TN $120,950
    Cleveland, TN $117,390
    Johnson City, TN $117,390

    Related occupations in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $49,100
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $106,070
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $46,620
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $104,330
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $62,640
    Judicial Law Clerks $35,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Memphis?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $58.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $155.27 or more per hour.

    Is Memphis above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is 19.6% below the national median of $151,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Lawyers in Memphis?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $62,830 per year in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $81,260.