Chief Executive salary in Tennessee
Chief Executives in Tennessee earn a median of $198,830 a year ($95.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $474,740 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $213,990. Tennessee ranks 24th of 46 states for chief executives pay. There are 1.4 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $239,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,520 | $31.02 |
| 25th percentile | $113,110 | $54.38 |
| Median | $198,830 | $95.59 |
| 75th percentile | $307,390 | $147.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $474,740 | $228.24 |
| Average (mean) | $239,970 | $115.37 |
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 | $16,569.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,284.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,647.31 |
| Weekly | $3,823.65 |
| Hourly | $95.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in cities in Tennessee
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $106,970 | $51.43 |
| Financial Manager | $141,010 | $67.79 |
| Managers, All Other | $99,430 | $47.80 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $107,120 | $51.50 |
| Sales Manager | $128,040 | $61.56 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $158,700 | $76.30 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $127,410 | $61.25 |
| Marketing Manager | $131,990 | $63.46 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $119,430 | $57.42 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $97,590 | — |
| Construction Manager | $110,200 | $52.98 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $100,740 | $48.43 |
| Food Service Manager | $64,410 | $30.97 |
| Human Resources Manager | $131,760 | $63.35 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for chief executives in Tennessee is $198,830 a year, or $95.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $474,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of chief executives in Tennessee earn at least $474,740 a year. The top 25% earn $307,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,520 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $113,110 or less.
How many chief executives work in Tennessee?
About 4,700 chief executives are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.