Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

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

Median annual salary $49,100 -19.5% vs national
Median hourly $23.61
10th percentile $38,340
90th percentile $78,170
Employed locally 1,170
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,340
    25th
    $44,860
    50th (median)
    $49,100
    75th
    $64,760
    90th
    $78,170

    Memphis economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,743 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 76% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 24% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $99,300
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,950
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $59,980
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $50,990
    Johnson City, TN $50,170
    Morristown, TN $49,940
    Clarksville, TN-KY $49,540
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $49,050

    Related occupations in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $121,510
    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 Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Memphis?

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $23.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.62 or more per hour.

    Is Memphis above or below average for Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries?

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is 19.5% below the national median of $61,010. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Memphis?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $38,340 per year in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,860.