Lawyer salary in Mississippi
Lawyers in Mississippi earn a median of $91,690 a year ($44.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $176,750 for the top 10%. That is 43% lower than the national median of $159,670. Mississippi ranks 51st of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 2.7 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $108,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| 25th percentile | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Median | $91,690 | $44.08 |
| 75th percentile | $130,170 | $62.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $176,750 | $84.97 |
| Average (mean) | $108,930 | $52.37 |
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 | $7,640.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,820.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,526.54 |
| Weekly | $1,763.27 |
| Hourly | $44.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Mississippi
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $134,440 | 1,670 |
| Jackson, MS | $104,460 | 1,390 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $87,570 | 160 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $87,210 | 380 |
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 |
Related jobs in Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $66,310 | $31.88 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $47,060 | $22.62 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $55,930 | $26.89 |
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 Mississippi?
The median salary for lawyers in Mississippi is $91,690 a year, or $44.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $176,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of lawyers in Mississippi earn at least $176,750 a year. The top 25% earn $130,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,670 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $63,650 or less.
How many lawyers work in Mississippi?
About 3,100 lawyers are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.