Chief Operating Officer Salary
in Knoxville, TN
Oversee daily business operations and drive operational efficiency across the organization. Median salary in Knoxville: $185K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Salary range in Knoxville
Source: BLS OES 2026, H-1B DOL Disclosures Q1 2026. Figures represent annual base salary in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Key facts for Knoxville
Salary forecast: Knoxville Chief Operating Officer to 2030
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $185K by 2030.
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Chief Operating Officer Salary in Knoxville, Tennessee: Complete Guide (2026)
The median Chief Operating Officer salary in Knoxville, TN is $185,000 per year as of Q1 2025. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Knoxville–TN metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Salary range for Chief Operating Officer in Knoxville
Entry-level Chief Operating Officers in Knoxville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $128,000 and $185,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $185,000 to $282,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $282,000 to $422,000 or more.
Cost of living in Knoxville for Chief Operating Officers
Knoxville has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Knoxville than the national average. Crucially, Tennessee has no state income tax — giving Knoxville-based Chief Operating Officers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Education requirements for Chief Operating Officer
Bachelor's; MBA; 15+ years operations experience. 25% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.