Paralegal salary in Memphis, TN-MS
Memphis is a lower-cost market for paralegals: the median of $56,850 a year1 is 3.3% below the Tennessee statewide median of $58,820, and 9.6% below the US median of $62,890. Nationally it ranks #248 of 506 areas. About 1,120 paralegals work here.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Memphis, TN-MS-AR. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Memphis against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS | $42,950 | $56,850 | $84,480 | |
| Tennessee | $43,570 | $58,820 | $83,100 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Memphis earns $47,750–$70,580. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $84,480, only 2.0 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $22,830 wide, between the figure for Tennessee ($20,200) and the US figure ($29,740).
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,950 | $3,579 | $20.65 | $55,419 |
| 25th percentile | $47,750 | $3,979 | $22.96 | $61,613 |
| Median | $56,850 | $4,738 | $27.33 | $73,355 |
| 75th percentile | $70,580 | $5,882 | $33.93 | $91,071 |
| 90th percentile | $84,480 | $7,040 | $40.62 | $109,006 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $13,730 over the median, the 25th only $9,100 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $17,716 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $62,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Memphis, and the Tennessee statewide median of $58,820 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Memphis
At the $56,850 median, a local hire costs about $73,355 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $16,505 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for paralegals we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Memphis
Of the 17 roles we track in Memphis, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($59,140) and payroll specialists ($53,420). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,130.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +11.9% | 870 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +4.0% | 3,330 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 1,120 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -6.0% | 520 | |
| HR Assistant | -14.7% | 960 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Memphis (-9.6%), between virtual receptionists (-9.2%) and e-commerce order specialists (-11.7%). The typical role here is at -8.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Paralegals hold 1.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Memphis, 1.7% across Tennessee and 2.5% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 14 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $46,640 in the West Tennessee nonmetro area to $60,800 in Nashville-Murfreesboro, a gap of $14,160 a year. The one area in Tennessee with more paralegals, Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN ($60,800), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Memphis | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | +6.9% | 2,660 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | +4.3% | 530 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | this area | 1,120 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | -1.5% | 240 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -4.6% | 200 | |
| North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -10.8% | 130 | |
| South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -10.9% | 90 |
Memphis against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Memphis is #58 of 503 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Tennessee, Sebastian-Vero Beach and Davenport-Moline pay just above Memphis and Oshkosh-Neenah and Alexandria just below. All four are within $180 a year of the median in Memphis. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Memphis | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | +5.7% | 1,190 | jobs | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +4.4% | 1,070 | jobs | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +0.3% | 280 | pay | |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | +0.2% | 190 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | this area | 1,120 | ||
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -0.1% | 120 | pay | |
| Alexandria, LA | -0.2% | 120 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | -5.9% | 1,140 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Memphis, TN-MS?
About $73,355 a year at the median, or $6,113 a month: $56,850 in pay plus about $16,505 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Memphis?
The median was $56,850 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,950, the 90th $84,480, and the middle half earned $47,750 to $70,580.
Is Memphis cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for paralegals?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $56,850 against $58,820 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is Chattanooga at $59,290, the next down Clarksville at $56,010.
How many paralegals work in Memphis?
BLS counts about 1,120 in the May 2025 survey. Only Nashville-Murfreesboro has more in Tennessee.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Memphis?
Yes: $3,430 a year more at the median. The medians are $56,850 and $53,420.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.