Chief Executive salary in Knoxville, TN
Chief Executives in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $198,890 a year ($95.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 510 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $444,320 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $198,830. There are 1.2 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $233,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,940 | $32.18 |
| 25th percentile | $106,670 | $51.29 |
| Median | $198,890 | $95.62 |
| 75th percentile | $299,840 | $144.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $444,320 | $213.61 |
| Average (mean) | $233,920 | $112.46 |
Half of chief executives 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 | $16,574.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,287.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,649.62 |
| Weekly | $3,824.81 |
| Hourly | $95.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $218,190 | 1,730 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $209,990 | 440 |
| Jackson, TN | $201,090 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $196,680 | 680 |
| Johnson City, TN | $195,450 | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $189,410 | 100 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $172,410 | 120 |
| Morristown, TN | $166,650 | 50 |
| Cleveland, TN | $140,930 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $104,590 | $50.29 |
| Managers, All Other | $101,930 | $49.00 |
| Financial Manager | $133,570 | $64.21 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $104,250 | $50.12 |
| Sales Manager | $119,380 | $57.39 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $143,650 | $69.06 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $125,470 | $60.32 |
| Marketing Manager | $131,040 | $63.00 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $99,950 | — |
| Industrial Production Manager | $120,020 | $57.70 |
| Construction Manager | $101,910 | $48.99 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $99,780 | $47.97 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $98,240 | $47.23 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $162,950 | $78.34 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. 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 chief executive make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for chief executives in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $198,890 a year, or $95.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $444,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $444,320 a year. The top 25% earn $299,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,940 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $106,670 or less.
How many chief executives work in Knoxville, TN?
About 510 chief executives are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.