Lawyer salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Lawyers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $142,540 a year ($68.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $346,830 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 5% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $136,180. There are 3.6 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $172,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| 25th percentile | $102,230 | $49.15 |
| Median | $142,540 | $68.53 |
| 75th percentile | $208,300 | $100.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $346,830 | $166.74 |
| Average (mean) | $172,980 | $83.16 |
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 | $11,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,939.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,482.31 |
| Weekly | $2,741.15 |
| Hourly | $68.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $142,540 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $147,640 | 740 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $134,440 | 1,670 |
| Jackson, TN | $133,770 | 190 |
| Cleveland, TN | $131,980 | 60 |
| Knoxville, TN | $126,520 | 1,250 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $119,430 | 160 |
| Johnson City, TN | $117,390 | 130 |
| Morristown, TN | $115,230 | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $107,560 | 300 |
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Law Clerk | $74,010 | $35.58 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $218,190 | $104.90 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $107,620 | $51.74 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $59,130 | $28.43 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $62,700 | $30.14 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for lawyers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $142,540 a year, or $68.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $346,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $346,830 a year. The top 25% earn $208,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,890 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $102,230 or less.
How many lawyers work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 3,990 lawyers are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.