Lawyers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $263,220 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Knoxville earn between $96,840 and $187,400.
- $78K10th
- $97K25th
- $127KMedian
- $187K75th
- $263K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $148,910 | $12,409 | $71.59 |
| Median | $126,520 | $10,543 | $60.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,840 | $8,070 | $46.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $187,400 | $15,617 | $90.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Lawyers in Knoxville earn 9% less than the Tennessee average ($163,870) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $148,910 | $126,520 | $77,800 | $263,220 | 1,250 |
| Tennessee | $163,870 | $136,180 | $76,510 | $324,880 | 9,010 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $148,910, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $113,046 a year, or $9,420 a month and $4,348 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $148,910 buys what about $160,864 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 5th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($172,980).
- Nashville$172,980
- Chattanooga$170,640
- Jackson$164,680
- Memphis$159,520
- Knoxville$148,910
- Cleveland$147,080
- Kingsport$139,480
- Johnson City$135,460
- Clarksville$132,690
- Morristown$131,540
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Lawyers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Knoxville?
$71.59 an hour on average, and $60.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $113,046 a year ($9,420 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $148,910. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do lawyers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.