Chief Executives pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $444,320 or more. The middle half of chief executives in Knoxville earn between $106,670 and $299,840.
- $67K10th
- $107K25th
- $199KMedian
- $300K75th
- $444K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $233,920 | $19,493 | $112.46 |
| Median | $198,890 | $16,574 | $95.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,670 | $8,889 | $51.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $299,840 | $24,987 | $144.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chief Executives pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chief executives in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($239,970) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($269,630). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $213,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $233,920 | $198,890 | $66,940 | $444,320 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $239,970 | $198,830 | $64,520 | $474,740 | 4,700 |
| United States | $269,630 | $213,990 | $75,700 | $507,730 | 204,350 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chief Executives salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $233,920, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $172,625 a year, or $14,385 a month and $6,639 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for chief executives? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $233,920 buys what about $252,698 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Chief Executives salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($262,270).
- Nashville$262,270
- Chattanooga$258,680
- Memphis$254,350
- Kingsport$240,250
- Jackson$238,470
- Knoxville$233,920
- Johnson City$220,840
- Clarksville$197,650
- Morristown$197,120
- Cleveland$192,710
Highest-paying cities for chief executives
Medford, OR pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($503,650).
- Medford, OR$503,650
- Midland, MI$493,680
- Bridgeport, CT$447,290
- Durham, NC$425,580
- Portland, OR$420,320
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Chief Executives salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do chief executives make an hour in Knoxville?
$112.46 an hour on average, and $95.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chief executives salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chief executives take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $172,625 a year ($14,385 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $233,920. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chief executives earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($269,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-1011; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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