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Lawyers salary in Memphis, TN

Lawyers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area earn a median of $134,440 a year, an average of $159,520. About 1,670 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Lawyers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$134,440
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$159,520
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$74,270
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$322,970
Top of the range
People employed
1,670
In Memphis metro area
Rent share of median wage
10.0%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Memphis

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,123
per month, in Memphis, TN
Income needed for median rent
$44,900
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median lawyers wage
$134,440
199.4% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
10.0%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$51,211
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Memphis area. Read the Memphis, TN cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Lawyers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
-7.4%
Median $124,530
Mean $135,380
Employed 2,000
Detroit, MI
same
Median $134,980
Mean $152,950
Employed 10,110
Portland, OR
+15.5%
Median $155,330
Mean $164,090
Employed 5,170
Las Vegas, NV
+12.0%
Median $150,510
Mean $207,920
Employed 5,480
Boston, MA
+36.4%
Median $183,350
Mean $215,680
Employed 20,080
Washington, DC
+45.2%
Median $195,190
Mean $226,780
Employed 46,840
El Paso, TX
+4.5%
Median $140,550
Mean $152,370
Employed 780
Baltimore, MD
-1.5%
Median $132,400
Mean $154,190
Employed 7,520

See lawyers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $134,440 / year
$134,440
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Tennessee (TN)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.