Tennessee Median
$198,830
per year
Hourly Rate
$95.59
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $213,990
State Rank
#24 of 46
4,700 employed here
How much does a Chief Executive make in Tennessee?
A Chief Executive working in Tennessee earns a median salary of $198,830 per year, or about $95.59 per hour. That is 7% below the national median of $213,990 for this occupation.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $64,520 while the top 10% make $474,740 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $113,110 and $307,390 a year.
Chief Executive salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,520 | $31.02 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $113,110 | $54.38 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $198,830 | $95.59 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $307,390 | $147.78 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $474,740 | $228.24 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 24th out of 46 states and territories for Chief Executive pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chief Executive salary in other states
Oregon $341,630Washington $339,810Illinois $331,920North Carolina $314,290Virginia $310,740New Jersey $310,440Connecticut $295,120Hawaii $281,640South Dakota $280,900New York $257,980Texas $257,850Michigan $255,560Indiana $254,180Maryland $248,660Rhode Island $235,360Pennsylvania $232,560California $218,600Nebraska $214,680Colorado $213,370Iowa $211,190Wisconsin $208,350Georgia $208,180Delaware $199,990Minnesota $195,670Montana $182,340Kentucky $179,530Idaho $177,210Ohio $176,440Vermont $175,070Missouri $172,320Utah $171,880South Carolina $168,840New Hampshire $168,590Alaska $166,710Alabama $166,420North Dakota $164,560Oklahoma $163,790Kansas $158,100West Virginia $151,950Nevada $149,770Wyoming $147,940Mississippi $139,250Maine $138,770New Mexico $123,500Arkansas $119,990
Working as a Chief Executive in Tennessee
Nationally, about 204,000 people work as Chief Executives in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare Tennessee pay ($198,830) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chief Executive make in Tennessee?
The median Chief Executive salary in Tennessee is $198,830 per year, or about $95.59 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $64,520 at the entry level to $474,740 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Chief Executives about 7% less than the national median of $213,990. Tennessee ranks 24th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Chief Executives?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $198,830 a year. About 4,700 Chief Executives are employed in Tennessee. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chief Executive salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.