In Memphis, TN, lawyers earn a median of $134,440 a year, according to the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. It runs 9% above the national median of $123,710 for this occupation — pay here is notably stronger than the U.S. average. The middle 50% land between $88,610 and $199,680 — a 111,070 range that reflects differences in seniority, employer type, and specialization. The average (mean) of $159,520 comes in higher than the median, which usually means a share of high earners is pulling the average up. The catch: Memphis is roughly in line with the national cost of living (cost index 100 against a 100 baseline), so that headline number buys less than it would elsewhere. On an hourly basis that is about $64.63, useful for comparing contract or part-time offers.

For context, the national median for lawyers across all U.S. metros in our data is $123,710.