Average Salaries in Georgia
Explore salaries across 761 occupations in Georgia. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $62.2K, +1.0% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 761 occupations and 4,826,740 total jobs in Georgia.
How the state compares
Wages in Georgia track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
Georgia has a large and diverse labor market, with meaningful employment across most occupations.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Psychiatrists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Georgia
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Georgia
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | $229.2K | 460 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $221.2K | 1,160 |
| Anesthesiologists | $206.9K | 600 |
| Chief Executives | $201.8K | 5,440 |
| Dentists, General | $195.8K | 3,260 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $194.2K | 80 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $174.6K | 970 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $169.2K | 17,560 |
| Financial Managers | $163.5K | 22,720 |
| Pediatricians, General | $162.3K | 850 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Georgia
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 151,240 | $26.3K |
| Retail Salespersons | 142,520 | $29.8K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 135,950 | $37.0K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 112,790 | $39.0K |
| General And Operations Managers | 111,240 | $99.8K |
| Registered Nurses | 97,410 | $86.6K |
| Cashiers | 96,120 | $28.0K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 88,650 | $35.6K |
| Office Clerks, General | 79,450 | $39.4K |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 78,990 | $75.8K |
What Georgia specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Georgia than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Georgia
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Textile Winding, Twisting, And Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders | 11.42 | $38.0K |
| Textile Knitting And Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders | 8.32 | $38.6K |
| Extruding And Forming Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders, Synthetic And Glass Fibers | 5.91 | $44.9K |
| Athletes And Sports Competitors | 5.28 | $72.1K |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders | 4.89 | $40.8K |
| Teachers And Instructors, All Other | 4.18 | $60.0K |
| Forest Fire Inspectors And Prevention Specialists | 4.06 | $46.2K |
| Entertainment Attendants And Related Workers, All Other | 3.96 | $23.8K |
| Textile Bleaching And Dyeing Machine Operators And Tenders | 3.68 | $39.9K |
| Educational Instruction And Library Workers, All Other | 3.66 | $23.4K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside Georgia
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Georgia
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65.5K | 2,814,960 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $59.9K | 219,120 |
| Savannah, GA | $59.3K | 181,560 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $55.4K | 108,640 |
| Gainesville, GA | $57.5K | 92,720 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $55.5K | 88,100 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $56.9K | 82,490 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $60.0K | 66,610 |
| Dalton, GA | $56.6K | 61,070 |
| Albany, GA | $55.6K | 51,880 |
Common salary questions for Georgia
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.