Lawyer salary in Knoxville, TN
Lawyers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $126,520 a year ($60.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,220 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 7% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $136,180. There are 3.0 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $148,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,800 | $37.40 |
| 25th percentile | $96,840 | $46.56 |
| Median | $126,520 | $60.83 |
| 75th percentile | $187,400 | $90.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $263,220 | $126.55 |
| Average (mean) | $148,910 | $71.59 |
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 | $10,543.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,271.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,866.15 |
| Weekly | $2,433.08 |
| Hourly | $60.83 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $147,640 | 740 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $142,540 | 3,990 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $134,440 | 1,670 |
| Jackson, TN | $133,770 | 190 |
| Cleveland, TN | $131,980 | 60 |
| 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 Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $115,230 | $55.40 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $148,580 | $71.43 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $49,780 | $23.94 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $48,620 | $23.37 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $58,600 | $28.18 |
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for lawyers in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $126,520 a year, or $60.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $263,220 a year. The top 25% earn $187,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,800 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $96,840 or less.
How many lawyers work in Knoxville, TN?
About 1,250 lawyers are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.