Tennessee ranks 18th of 50 states and D.C. for lawyers pay, trailing top-paying California ($197,790) by $67,220 — a 51% gap.
Lawyers are less concentrated in Tennessee than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.56 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.79× below the national share.
Tennessee employs roughly 1.2% of all lawyers in the country (8,830 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $66,060 | $31.76 |
| 25th percentile | $94,190 | $45.29 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $130,570 | $62.77 |
| 75th percentile | $187,400 | $90.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (average) | $155,290 | $74.66 |
How Tennessee Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (current) | $130,570 | n/a |
| California | $197,790 | +51% |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 | +47% |
| Massachusetts | $179,050 | +37% |
| New York | $177,210 | +36% |
| Delaware | $172,710 | +32% |
| Colorado | $167,970 | +29% |
| Connecticut | $159,240 | +22% |
| New Jersey | $158,470 | +21% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in Tennessee
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | $130,260 | 8,320 |
| Pharmacists | $131,290 | 8,050 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $129,620 | 190 |
| Database Architects | $128,440 | 680 |
| Purchasing Managers | $132,930 | 1,430 |
| Financial Managers | $133,010 | 18,650 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Lawyers salary in Tennessee?
The mean lawyers salary in Tennessee is $155,290 per year. The median (middle) salary is $130,570 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Lawyers in Tennessee?
Entry-level lawyerss (10th percentile) in Tennessee typically earn around $66,060 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $94,190 per year.
What is the highest Lawyers salary in Tennessee?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in Tennessee make approximately N/A per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $187,400 per year.
How does the Tennessee Lawyers salary compare to the national average?
The median lawyers salary in Tennessee is $130,570, which is -14% below national average of $151,160.