Chief Executive Salary in Memphis, TN
Chief Executives in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $196,680 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $146,452 take-home, or $12,204 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$35,937
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,852
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$146,452
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chief Executive pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,420 | $37.70 | $63,998 | $5,333 |
| 25th percentile | $120,360 | $57.87 | $93,503 | $7,792 |
| Median (50th) | $196,680 | $94.56 | $146,452 | $12,204 |
| 75th percentile | $305,080+ | $146.67 | $218,359 | $18,197 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $459,580+ | $220.95 | $315,154 | $26,263 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $196,680 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $146,452 take-home pay has the buying power of $158,878 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are about as common in Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #30 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
| 30 | Memphis, TN | $196,680 | $146,452 | $158,878 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
Chief Executive salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Chattanooga, TN — $209,990
- Nashville, TN — $218,190
- Knoxville, TN — $198,890
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Memphis, TN?
The median chief executive salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $196,680 a year, or about $94.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $120,360 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $196,680 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $146,452 a year ($12,204 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $158,878 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #30 of 55 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 9% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $161,790
- Financial Manager — $143,880
- Human Resources Manager — $138,560
- Marketing Manager — $132,540
- Administrative Services Manager — $130,580
- Sales Manager — $128,560
- Industrial Production Manager — $118,120
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $112,800
- Facilities Manager — $108,610
- Construction Manager — $107,710
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $106,170
- Managers, All Other — $104,050