Chief Executive salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Chief Executives in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $196,680 a year ($94.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 680 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $459,580 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 1% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $198,830. There are 1.1 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $254,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,420 | $37.70 |
| 25th percentile | $120,360 | $57.86 |
| Median | $196,680 | $94.56 |
| 75th percentile | $305,080 | $146.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $459,580 | $220.95 |
| Average (mean) | $254,350 | $122.29 |
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 | $16,390 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,195 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,564.62 |
| Weekly | $3,782.31 |
| Hourly | $94.56 |
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 |
| Knoxville, TN | $198,890 | 510 |
| Johnson City, TN | $195,450 | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $189,410 | 100 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $172,410 | 120 |
| Morristown, TN | $166,650 | 50 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $161,180 | 70 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $159,120 | 40 |
| Jackson, MS | $149,490 | 110 |
| Cleveland, TN | $140,930 | 40 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $134,640 | 670 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $129,490 | n/a |
| Jonesboro, AR | $120,020 | 140 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $119,990 | 90 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $114,550 | 210 |
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| Financial Manager | $143,880 | $69.17 |
| Managers, All Other | $104,050 | $50.03 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $112,800 | $54.23 |
| Sales Manager | $128,560 | $61.81 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $161,790 | $77.78 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $106,170 | $51.05 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $130,580 | $62.78 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $98,390 | — |
| Marketing Manager | $132,540 | $63.72 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $118,120 | $56.79 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,200 | $29.43 |
| Food Service Manager | $64,510 | $31.02 |
| Human Resources Manager | $138,560 | $66.61 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for chief executives in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $196,680 a year, or $94.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $459,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $459,580 a year. The top 25% earn $305,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,420 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $120,360 or less.
How many chief executives work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 680 chief executives are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.