Lawyer Salary in Memphis, TN
Lawyers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $134,440 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $103,156 take-home, or $8,596 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,000
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,335
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,949
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$103,156
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Lawyer pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,270 | $35.71 | $61,079 | $5,090 |
| 25th percentile | $88,610 | $42.60 | $71,167 | $5,931 |
| Median (50th) | $134,440 | $64.63 | $103,156 | $8,596 |
| 75th percentile | $199,680 | $96.00 | $148,688 | $12,391 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $322,970+ | $155.27 | $229,567 | $19,131 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,440 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $103,156 take-home pay has the buying power of $111,908 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are less concentrated in Memphis, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #23 of 149 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | $161,150 | $113,580 | $124,497 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 6 | Chattanooga, TN | $147,640 | $112,178 | $122,647 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $163,380 | $122,936 | $121,702 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 23 | Memphis, TN | $134,440 | $103,156 | $111,908 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 149 metros →
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Chattanooga, TN — $147,640
- Nashville, TN — $142,540
- Knoxville, TN — $126,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Memphis, TN?
The median lawyer salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $134,440 a year, or about $64.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $88,610 and $199,680.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $134,440 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $103,156 a year ($8,596 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $111,908 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #23 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 13% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $56,850