Lawyer salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Lawyers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $147,640 a year ($70.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $355,460 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 8% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $136,180. There are 2.7 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $170,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,000 | $31.25 |
| 25th percentile | $97,810 | $47.02 |
| Median | $147,640 | $70.98 |
| 75th percentile | $206,640 | $99.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $355,460 | $170.89 |
| Average (mean) | $170,640 | $82.04 |
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 | $12,303.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,151.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,678.46 |
| Weekly | $2,839.23 |
| Hourly | $70.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $142,540 | 3,990 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $138,210 | 18,760 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $134,440 | 1,670 |
| Jackson, TN | $133,770 | 190 |
| Cleveland, TN | $131,980 | 60 |
| Knoxville, TN | $126,520 | 1,250 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $125,480 | 200 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $123,960 | 630 |
| Savannah, GA | $123,050 | 640 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $119,430 | 160 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $118,750 | 120 |
| Johnson City, TN | $117,390 | 130 |
| Morristown, TN | $115,230 | 70 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $108,200 | 410 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $107,560 | 300 |
| Hinesville, GA | $107,320 | 50 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $105,360 | 240 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $104,120 | 290 |
| Albany, GA | $103,510 | 150 |
| Valdosta, GA | $101,000 | 130 |
| Dalton, GA | $91,730 | 120 |
| Rome, GA | $74,410 | n/a |
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $107,670 | $51.77 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $59,290 | $28.51 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $58,110 | $27.94 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for lawyers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $147,640 a year, or $70.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $355,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $355,460 a year. The top 25% earn $206,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,000 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $97,810 or less.
How many lawyers work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 740 lawyers are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.