Lawyer salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Lawyers in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $107,560 a year ($51.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $242,750 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 21% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $136,180. There are 2.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $139,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,880 | $36.48 |
| 25th percentile | $94,720 | $45.54 |
| Median | $107,560 | $51.71 |
| 75th percentile | $167,320 | $80.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $242,750 | $116.71 |
| Average (mean) | $139,480 | $67.06 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,963.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,481.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,136.92 |
| Weekly | $2,068.46 |
| Hourly | $51.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $107,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | 46,840 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $149,430 | 390 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $147,640 | 740 |
| Richmond, VA | $144,910 | 3,780 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $142,540 | 3,990 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $134,440 | 1,670 |
| Roanoke, VA | $134,440 | 480 |
| Jackson, TN | $133,770 | 190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $133,380 | 2,280 |
| Cleveland, TN | $131,980 | 60 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $127,070 | 130 |
| Knoxville, TN | $126,520 | 1,250 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $124,760 | 140 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $122,110 | 250 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $119,430 | 160 |
| Johnson City, TN | $117,390 | 130 |
| Morristown, TN | $115,230 | 70 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $106,500 | 130 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $103,530 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $54,210 | $26.06 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $49,670 | $23.88 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for lawyers in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $107,560 a year, or $51.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $242,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $242,750 a year. The top 25% earn $167,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,880 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $94,720 or less.
How many lawyers work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 300 lawyers are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.