Lawyer Salary in Nashville, TN
Lawyers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $142,540 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,692 take-home, or $9,058 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,944
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,837
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,067
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$108,692
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,890 | $39.37 | $66,440 | $5,537 |
| 25th percentile | $102,230 | $49.15 | $80,749 | $6,729 |
| Median (50th) | $142,540 | $68.53 | $108,692 | $9,058 |
| 75th percentile | $208,300 | $100.14 | $155,040 | $12,920 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $346,830+ | $166.75 | $244,516 | $20,376 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $142,540 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $108,692 take-home pay has the buying power of $112,824 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 Nashville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #15 of 47 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 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $142,540 | $108,692 | $112,824 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Nashville, TN?
The median lawyer salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $142,540 a year, or about $68.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,230 and $208,300.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $142,540 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $108,692 a year ($9,058 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $112,824 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #15 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $60,800