Chief Executives pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $459,580 or more. The middle half of chief executives in Memphis earn between $120,360 and $305,080.
- $78K10th
- $120K25th
- $197KMedian
- $305K75th
- $460K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $254,350 | $21,196 | $122.28 |
| Median | $196,680 | $16,390 | $94.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $120,360 | $10,030 | $57.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $305,080 | $25,423 | $146.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chief Executives pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chief executives in Memphis earn 6% more than the Tennessee average ($239,970) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($269,630). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $213,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $254,350 | $196,680 | $78,420 | $459,580 | 680 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $254,350, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $186,038 a year, or $15,503 a month and $7,155 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $186,038 | $15,503 |
| Working in AR | $176,827 | $14,736 |
| Working in MS | $176,596 | $14,716 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for chief executives? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $254,350 buys what about $275,931 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 1.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chief Executives salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 3rd 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 Memphis: questions
How much do chief executives make an hour in Memphis?
$122.29 an hour on average, and $94.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chief executives salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $120,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chief executives take-home pay in Memphis?
About $186,038 a year ($15,503 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $254,350. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chief executives earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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