Lawyer Salaries in Mississippi

$176,470 Average Salary

Warning: Undefined array key "state_median" in /home/1204760.cloudwaysapps.com/jqpwcdmjhr/public_html/wp-content/themes/legaljobs/taxonomy-location_state.php on line 82
N/A Median

Warning: Undefined array key "state_top10" in /home/1204760.cloudwaysapps.com/jqpwcdmjhr/public_html/wp-content/themes/legaljobs/taxonomy-location_state.php on line 86
N/A Top 10%
$102K Entry Level
$176K National Avg
Mississippi Lawyer Salary Snapshot
  • Average: $176,470 (-0% below national)
  • Career Range: $101,610 (Entry) → $350,000 (Partner)
  • Highest-Paying: Patent Law ($248K)
  • Top Employers: BigLaw ($295K), In-House ($195K)
  • vs Nearby: Higher than Tennessee, Louisiana
Last updated: January 2025 • Source: BLS, NALP

Salary by Experience in Mississippi

How lawyer salaries grow with experience

0-2 years
Entry Level
$101,610
Median: $85K
3-5 years
Mid-Level
$145,000
Median: $128K
6-10 years
Senior
$195,000
Median: $172K
10+ years
Partner
$350,000
Median: $285K
Career Growth Potential

Lawyers in Mississippi can expect a 244% salary increase from entry-level to partner. Starting at $101,610, experienced partners earn $350,000 or more.

Salary by Firm Type in Mississippi

Compare compensation across different employer types

BigLaw (500+ attorneys)
$295,000
Entry: $225K Senior: $435K
Top 100 firms with offices nationwide
Midsize (50-500 attorneys)
$185,000
Entry: $155K Senior: $275K
Regional and specialty boutique firms
Small Firm (2-49 attorneys)
$110,000
Entry: $75K Senior: $165K
Local and small practice firms
Solo Practice
$85,000
Entry: $50K Senior: $150K
Self-employed attorneys
In-House Counsel
$195,000
Entry: $115K Senior: $319K
Corporate legal departments
Government
$98,000
Entry: $65K Senior: $148K
Federal, state, and local agencies
Public Interest
$72,000
Entry: $55K Senior: $95K
Non-profit and legal aid organizations
BigLaw vs Government Trade-off

In Mississippi, BigLaw pays $197,000 more than government roles ($295,000 vs $98,000). However, government attorneys may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and often enjoy better work-life balance.

Salary by Practice Area in Mississippi

Find the highest-paying legal specialties

💡 Patent Law $248K Entry: $145K | Senior: $380K 🤝 Mergers & Acquisitions $232K Entry: $150K | Senior: $400K ⚖ Antitrust Law $225K Entry: $145K | Senior: $380K 📈 Securities Law $215K Entry: $140K | Senior: $360K 🏛 Corporate Law $207K Entry: $135K | Senior: $350K © Intellectual Property $199K Entry: $125K | Senior: $320K 🏦 Banking & Finance $198K Entry: $130K | Senior: $335K 🔒 Privacy & Data Protection $185K Entry: $115K | Senior: $295K ⚖ Privacy & Data Protection $185K Entry: $115K | Senior: $295K 💻 Cybersecurity Law $178K Entry: $110K | Senior: $285K 📊 Tax Law $175K Entry: $110K | Senior: $280K ⚖ Energy Law $175K Entry: $110K | Senior: $280K 🌐 International Law $172K Entry: $105K | Senior: $275K 🎬 Entertainment Law $168K Entry: $85K | Senior: $275K ⚖ International Trade Law $168K Entry: $105K | Senior: $270K 🏥 Healthcare Law $165K Entry: $100K | Senior: $265K ⚖ Government Contracts $165K Entry: $100K | Senior: $265K 📉 Bankruptcy Law $155K Entry: $95K | Senior: $250K ⚖ Aviation Law $155K Entry: $95K | Senior: $245K 🩺 Medical Malpractice $148K Entry: $75K | Senior: $240K ⚖ Maritime Law $148K Entry: $88K | Senior: $235K 🔨 Litigation $148K Entry: $95K | Senior: $250K 👔 Employment Law $142K Entry: $88K | Senior: $230K ⚖ Sports Law $142K Entry: $75K | Senior: $235K 🏠 Real Estate $138K Entry: $85K | Senior: $220K 🏗 Construction Law $138K Entry: $82K | Senior: $220K 🌿 Environmental Law $135K Entry: $82K | Senior: $215K 🛒 Insurance Law $128K Entry: $78K | Senior: $205K 🩹 Personal Injury $125K Entry: $65K | Senior: $200K 📜 Estate Planning $108K Entry: $62K | Senior: $175K ⚖ Education Law $105K Entry: $62K | Senior: $165K 👪 Family Law $104K Entry: $58K | Senior: $165K 🚓 Criminal Law $98K Entry: $52K | Senior: $155K 🏛 Government/Public Sector $98K Entry: $65K | Senior: $148K 🧰 Workers Compensation $98K Entry: $58K | Senior: $155K ⚖ Criminal Defense $98K Entry: $52K | Senior: $155K 👴 Elder Law $92K Entry: $55K | Senior: $145K ⚖ Civil Rights Law $88K Entry: $52K | Senior: $145K 🌍 Immigration Law $86K Entry: $55K | Senior: $140K
Practice Area Comparison

In Mississippi, Patent Law lawyers earn $162,192 more than Immigration Law attorneys on average ($248,256 vs $86,064). Specializing in high-demand areas can significantly impact lifetime earnings.

Law School ROI in Mississippi

How long to pay off student loans by career path

💰 $130,000 Avg Law School Debt
⏱ 4.9 years To Pay Off at State Avg
📅 $1,480/mo Standard Payment
Payoff Timeline by Career Path
BigLaw $295K
2.9 yrs
In-House $195K
4.4 yrs
Government $98K
8.8 yrs PSLF eligible
At Mississippi's average salary of $176,470, you can pay off $130K in student loans in approximately 4.9 years while allocating 15% of your income to debt repayment.

Compare to Nearby States

How Mississippi compares to neighboring states

Mississippi Current
$176K
Tennessee
$118K -33%
Louisiana
$112K -37%
Alabama
$108K -39%
Arkansas
$98K -44%
🏠
Cost of Living Context

Mississippi has a cost of living at the national average. Median home price: $300,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

The average lawyer salary in Mississippi is $176,470, which is 0% below the national average of $176,470. Salaries range from $101,610 for entry-level positions to $350,000 or more for senior partners.

Patent Law is the highest-paying legal specialty in Mississippi, with an average salary of $248,256. Entry-level patent law attorneys start around $145,000, while senior attorneys can earn $380,000 or more.

First-year lawyers in Mississippi earn an average of $101,610. However, this varies significantly by employer type: BigLaw firms pay $225,000+, while small firms and government positions typically start around $65,000 to $75,000.

Major BigLaw firms in Mississippi typically match the Cravath scale, starting at $225,000 for first-year associates. The adjusted average BigLaw salary in Mississippi is approximately $295,000, reflecting local cost of living and market conditions.

Mississippi ranks below average for lawyer salaries among nearby states. The average of $176,470 is 0% lower than compared to Tennessee ($118K), Louisiana ($112K), Alabama ($108K).

Work as a Lawyer in Mississippi?

Help other legal professionals by sharing your salary information anonymously. Your contribution helps create salary transparency in the legal industry.

Submit Your Salary