What does a software engineer actually make in Atlanta? What about a registered nurse in Midtown or a project manager in Alpharetta? This guide pulls real salary data from BLS, Glassdoor, and Indeed to give you a ground-level view of what Metro Atlanta employers are paying across every major industry in 2025.
Atlanta's overall wage picture is strong. The average hourly wage across the Metro Atlanta MSA was $33.73 in May 2024, above the national average of $32.66, and compensation costs for Atlanta-area workers rose 3.2% in the 12 months ending June 2025. [1][2] But averages can be misleading. Atlanta's salary landscape varies dramatically by industry, role, experience level, and even by which part of the metro you work in.
This guide breaks it down by sector so you know exactly where you stand, and where the money is.
Atlanta at a Glance (2025):
Average hourly wage across all occupations: $33.73 [1]
Annual compensation cost increase (12 months ending June 2025): +3.2% [2]
Highest-paying occupational group: Management ($70.80/hr avg) [1]
Highest concentration vs. national avg: Business and Financial Operations (9.3% of local jobs vs. 6.7% nationally) [1]
Technology and Fintech
Atlanta's tech sector consistently outpaces the city's overall wage average, driven by the Alpharetta tech corridor, the fintech concentration in Buckhead and Midtown, and a growing data center and AI infrastructure ecosystem. Here is what the market is paying right now:
Software Engineer
Atlanta's software engineering market is active and well-compensated. The typical salary range runs from $119,677 at the 25th percentile to $180,665 at the 75th percentile, with an average of $145,948. [3] Top earners at companies like Google, Meta, and major fintech firms report salaries above $217,000. The tech companies in Alpharetta and the financial services firms in Buckhead are consistently the highest-paying employers for engineering talent.
Data Scientist
Data science is one of Atlanta's fastest-growing and highest-compensated roles. The average data scientist salary in Atlanta sits around $118,000 to $149,000 depending on the source, with the typical range running $94,700 to $130,800 for mid-level roles. [4][5] Senior data scientists average $220,626 with top earners reporting above $270,000. [6] Top-paying industries for data scientists in Atlanta include telecommunications (AT&T, Cox), financial services (BlackRock, Truist), and retail (Home Depot).
Information Security Analyst / Cybersecurity
One of the most in-demand roles in the Atlanta market, driven by the city's fintech, healthcare, and government contractor base. Typical salaries range from $85,000 to $130,000 for mid-level analysts, with senior roles and management positions reaching well above $150,000.
Business / Financial Analyst
Atlanta has one of the highest concentrations of business and financial operations jobs in the nation - 9.3% of all local employment versus 6.7% nationally. [1] The average salary for a business analyst in Atlanta is $106,144, with a typical range of $85,621 to $133,110. [7] Financial analysts in energy, utilities, and financial services tend to earn at the higher end.
Tech Salary Snapshot (Atlanta, 2025):
Software Engineer: $120,000 - $181,000 (avg $145,948) [3]
Data Scientist: $95,000 - $131,000 (avg ~$118,000-$149,000) [4][5]
Senior Data Scientist: $184,000 - $270,000 (avg $220,626) [6]
Business Analyst: $86,000 - $133,000 (avg $106,144) [7]
Cybersecurity Analyst: $85,000 - $130,000+
Healthcare and Life Sciences
Healthcare is Atlanta's fastest-growing sector by job count, adding 23,500 positions in the most recent reporting period. [8] Demand is outpacing supply for most clinical roles, and that pressure is pushing wages upward, particularly for experienced RNs, advanced practice nurses, and specialty roles.
Registered Nurse (RN)
The typical RN salary in Metro Atlanta runs from $81,848 to $115,068 per year, with an average of $96,644. [9] New graduate RNs at systems like Emory and Piedmont typically start around $70,000 to $75,000. Experienced RNs with specialty certifications - ICU, OR, labor and delivery routinely earn above $100,000, particularly with shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays factored in. Travel nurses working Atlanta assignments can earn significantly more on short-term contracts.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA)
Advanced practice roles command significantly higher compensation than staff RN positions. NPs and PAs in Atlanta typically earn between $105,000 and $145,000 depending on specialty, with acute care and surgical specialties at the higher end.
Medical Laboratory Scientist / Clinical Lab Tech
One of Atlanta's most in-demand clinical roles, with the Atlanta market - anchored by Emory, Northside, and major reference labs - offering strong demand. Salaries typically range from $55,000 to $80,000 for lab scientists, with senior and specialized lab roles reaching higher.
Healthcare Administrator and Medical Billing
Healthcare administrative and revenue cycle roles offer solid compensation without clinical licensure requirements. Medical billing and coding specialists typically earn $40,000 to $58,000, while healthcare administrators with management experience can reach $70,000 to $110,000+ depending on the size of the organization.
Healthcare Salary Snapshot (Atlanta, 2025):
Registered Nurse: $82,000 - $115,000 (avg $96,644) [9]
New Grad RN: $70,000 - $80,000
Nurse Practitioner / PA: $105,000 - $145,000
Medical Lab Scientist: $55,000 - $80,000
Healthcare Administrator: $70,000 - $110,000+
Medical Biller / Coder: $40,000 - $58,000
Finance, Banking, and Professional Services
Atlanta's financial services sector is anchored by Intercontinental Exchange (parent of the New York Stock Exchange), Truist, a dense network of private equity and investment firms in Buckhead, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The BLS reports that the average hourly wage for Atlanta's business and financial operations group is $45.05 - virtually identical to the national average for this category, meaning Atlanta finance jobs are competitively priced against any market in the country. [1]
Financial Analyst
The financial analyst category covers a wide range from entry-level FP&A roles to senior investment analysts. In Atlanta, financial analysts typically earn between $65,000 and $105,000, with personal financial advisors averaging $74.75/hour (approximately $155,000 annually) at the high end. [1] Risk specialists and quantitative roles command a premium, particularly at Intercontinental Exchange and the Atlanta Fed.
Accountant / Auditor
Atlanta has 30,610 accountants and auditors, one of the largest concentrations of the role in the market. [1] Typical salary range runs $55,000 to $90,000 for mid-level CPAs and audit associates, with senior and manager level roles at Big 4 firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC) reaching $110,000 to $160,000+.
Management Consultant
Atlanta has 29,880 management analysts, well above the national concentration, largely driven by the presence of McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Accenture, and a large network of boutique consulting firms. [1] The average consultant salary in Atlanta runs $90,000 to $140,000+ for experienced hires, with management consulting partners and principals earning well above $200,000.
Finance and Professional Services Salary Snapshot (Atlanta, 2025):
Financial Analyst: $65,000 - $105,000
Personal Financial Advisor: ~$155,000 avg [1]
Accountant / Auditor (mid-level): $55,000 - $90,000
Big 4 Senior / Manager: $110,000 - $160,000+
Management Consultant: $90,000 - $140,000+
Project Manager: $85,000 - $147,000 (avg $110,726) [10]
Construction and Skilled Trades
Atlanta's construction market remains one of the most active in the Southeast, fueled by commercial development, infrastructure spending, and a wave of industrial and data center construction across the metro area. Skilled trades workers and construction managers are in high demand, and wages reflect it.
Construction Project Manager
Construction project managers in Atlanta average $116,516 per year, with a typical range of $90,779 to $151,213. [11] Senior construction managers average $138,162 according to Salary.com, with top earners above $158,000. [12] Energy, utilities, and large commercial projects at firms like Kimley-Horn, Jacobs, and Turner Construction represent the highest-paying end of the market.
Skilled Trades (Electrician, Plumber, HVAC)
Skilled trades workers remain in shortage across Metro Atlanta, and wages have climbed steadily. Licensed electricians typically earn $55,000 to $85,000 depending on specialty and certifications. Licensed plumbers run similarly, with master plumbers often exceeding $90,000. HVAC technicians in commercial settings typically earn $50,000 to $75,000, with service and installation leads earning more.
Construction Laborer and Superintendent
Entry-level construction laborers in Atlanta typically earn $35,000 to $48,000. Superintendents managing active job sites typically earn $85,000 to $130,000 depending on project scale and employer.
Construction Salary Snapshot (Atlanta, 2025):
Construction Project Manager: $91,000 - $151,000 (avg $116,516) [11]
Construction Manager (senior): avg $138,162 [12]
Electrician (licensed): $55,000 - $85,000
Plumber (licensed): $55,000 - $90,000+
HVAC Technician: $50,000 - $75,000
Superintendent: $85,000 - $130,000
Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain
Atlanta's logistics sector is massive. Metro Atlanta is home to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, UPS's global headquarters, and one of the densest networks of distribution and fulfillment centers in the Southeast. The sector is navigating disruption from UPS's restructuring, but underlying wage demand remains strong.
Logistics and Supply Chain Manager
Supply chain and logistics managers in Atlanta typically earn $75,000 to $115,000, with director-level roles at major employers like Delta, Home Depot, and NCR reaching $130,000 to $180,000+.
Warehouse and Distribution Associate
Entry-level and frontline warehouse roles in Atlanta typically pay $38,000 to $52,000 for full-time positions, with overnight and peak-season differentials pushing total compensation higher at Amazon, Home Depot, and third-party logistics providers.
CDL Driver / Truck Driver
Commercial truck drivers remain in consistent demand across Metro Atlanta. Local and regional CDL drivers typically earn $55,000 to $80,000, with over-the-road and specialized drivers earning more. Sign-on bonuses and guaranteed weekly minimums are common incentives from major carriers.
Logistics Salary Snapshot (Atlanta, 2025):
Logistics / Supply Chain Manager: $75,000 - $115,000
Director of Logistics: $130,000 - $180,000+
Warehouse Associate: $38,000 - $52,000
CDL Driver (local/regional): $55,000 - $80,000
Operations Manager: $70,000 - $105,000
Marketing, Communications, and Creative
Atlanta's marketing and communications market is anchored by the Fortune 500 corporate base, a growing advertising and media agency scene in Midtown and West Midtown, and the city's film and entertainment industry. Cox Media Group, CNN, and a dense network of corporate marketing departments all drive demand.
Marketing Manager
Marketing managers in Atlanta typically earn $75,000 to $120,000 depending on industry and seniority. Digital marketing specialists and SEO/SEM managers tend to earn $55,000 to $90,000. Brand managers at major corporations typically start around $80,000 and scale with experience.
Content and Communications
Content strategists, copywriters, and communications specialists in Atlanta typically earn $50,000 to $80,000. Senior content directors and communications VPs at large corporations reach $100,000 to $160,000.
Government and Education
Government and public sector employment is a significant and often overlooked part of Metro Atlanta's job market. The federal government's presence alone, anchored by the CDC, the EPA's national headquarters, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and multiple military installations, makes Atlanta one of the most active federal hiring markets in the Southeast. State and local government roles across Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, and DeKalb counties add tens of thousands of additional positions in administration, law enforcement, public health, transportation, and education.
Government Roles
Federal government positions in Atlanta, particularly at the CDC, EPA, and Hartsfield-Jackson, offer competitive salaries with strong benefits. GS pay scales for Atlanta positions typically run from $48,000 (GS-7) to $130,000+ (GS-14/15). State and local government roles generally run 10-20% below federal equivalents but offer strong benefits and pension plans.
Teachers and Education Professionals
Public school teachers in Metro Atlanta school districts typically earn $45,000 to $72,000 depending on district, years of experience, and degree level. Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and Cobb County School District all maintain published salary schedules. University and college faculty salaries vary widely by institution and tenure status.
Hospitality, Food Service, and Retail
Hospitality, food service, and retail collectively represent one of Metro Atlanta's largest frontline employment categories, and the sector is significantly shaped by two forces unique to Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which drives enormous demand for hotel, food service, and retail workers in the College Park and South Fulton corridor, and the city's growing convention and tourism industry centered on the Georgia World Congress Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the dense hotel market in Midtown and Buckhead.
Hotel and Hospitality Management
Hotel general managers in Atlanta typically earn $75,000 to $130,000 depending on property size and brand. Front-of-house managers and food and beverage directors typically earn $55,000 to $85,000. Atlanta's airport hospitality market, anchored by Hartsfield-Jackson, is among the busiest in the country and offers strong frontline wages.
Frontline and Service Roles
The BLS reports Atlanta's food preparation and serving workers average $15.38 per hour, while personal care and service workers average $16.88 per hour. [1] Tipped roles in high-volume restaurants can push total compensation significantly higher. Retail management roles typically run $45,000 to $70,000.
What Affects Your Salary in Atlanta
Beyond industry, several factors consistently move Atlanta salaries up or down:
Industry sector. Technology, finance, legal, and management roles all run well above Atlanta's overall average. Food service, personal care, and retail roles run below. Healthcare sits in a strong middle range with a clear upward track for experienced clinicians.
North vs. South Metro. Employers in Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and Buckhead generally pay more than the metro average due to the concentration of corporate headquarters and financial services firms. South Fulton, Clayton County, and outer-ring counties tend to run closer to the metro median or below.
Company size. Larger companies and Fortune 500 employers consistently pay above the market for most roles. Startups may pay below base but offer equity; small businesses often pay at or below market with less structured comp packages.
Experience and certifications. Across every sector, moving from early-career to mid-career adds 20-40% to base compensation in Atlanta's market. Certifications, CPA, PMP, CISSP, AWS, clinical licensure, consistently command premium pay.
Hybrid vs. on-site. In a notable trend, some Atlanta employers offering fully remote work are posting slightly lower base salaries than comparable in-person roles, reasoning that remote workers save on commute costs. Know what you are comparing when evaluating offers.
Keep Exploring Atlanta's Job Market
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Sources:
[2] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Changing Compensation Costs in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, June 2025
[3] Glassdoor - Software Engineer Salaries in Atlanta, GA (December 2025)
[4] ZipRecruiter - Data Scientist Salary in Atlanta, GA (2025)
[5] Indeed - Data Scientist Salary in Atlanta, GA (October 2025)
[6] Glassdoor - Senior Data Scientist Salaries in Atlanta, GA (2025)
[7] Glassdoor - Business Analyst Salaries in Atlanta, GA (December 2025)
[8] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Atlanta Area Employment, June 2025
[9] Glassdoor - Registered Nurse Salaries in Atlanta, GA (August 2025)
[10] Glassdoor - Project Manager Salaries in Atlanta, GA (2025)
[11] Glassdoor - Construction Project Manager Salaries in Atlanta, GA (September 2025)
[12] Salary.com - Construction Manager Salary in Atlanta, GA (January 2026)