Lawyer Salary in Tennessee

Lawyers in Tennessee have a median annual salary of $136,180, which works out to about $65.47 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $98,750 to $198,470, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

23-1011 · Lawyers

Lawyer pay in Tennessee at a glance

Median annual salary

$136,180

Median hourly wage

$65.47/hr

Average annual salary

$163,870

Average hourly wage

$78.79/hr

25th percentile

$98,750

75th percentile

$198,470

10th percentile

$76,510

90th percentile

$324,880

People employed

9,010

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid lawyer roles in Tennessee.

10th percentile
$76,510
25th percentile
$98,750
Median percentile
$136,180
75th percentile
$198,470
90th percentile
$324,880

Tennessee vs U.S. salary

The median salary for lawyer roles in Tennessee is about 14.7% below the U.S. median of $159,670 for the same occupation.

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How much does a lawyer make in Tennessee?

Half of lawyer roles in Tennessee report earning more than $136,180 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $163,870 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $98,750 and a quarter are above $198,470, so most lawyer pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect lawyer pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Lawyer pay in other states

Related jobs in Tennessee

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.