Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in Atlanta, GA (2026)
The highest-paying job in Atlanta, GA, Georgia is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $354,000 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 64 tracked occupations the average median is $114,218, with 44 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Atlanta, GA has a cost-of-living index of 99.2 (national average = 100), so a $114,218 nominal salary equals $115,139 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Atlanta, GA, GA, from BLS OEWS data. Atlanta, GA's cost-of-living index runs 99.2 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Atlanta, GA, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Atlanta, GA
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Atlanta, GA's cost-of-living index of 99.2 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $354,000 · 10th–90th $230,070–$419,740 · 270 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Atlanta, GA earn $354,000 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $419,740.
Median $259,320 · 10th–90th $170,770–$437,630 · 2,060 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Atlanta, GA earn $259,320 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $437,630.
Median $222,690 · 10th–90th $93,590–$373,420 · 1,710 jobs in metro
Dentists in Atlanta, GA earn $222,690 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $373,420.
Median $177,970 · 10th–90th $127,040–$287,740 · 14,430 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Atlanta, GA earn $177,970 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $287,740.
Median $171,240 · 10th–90th $100,740–$324,540 · 15,660 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Atlanta, GA earn $171,240 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $324,540.
Median $166,920 · 10th–90th $86,540–$302,460 · 12,080 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Atlanta, GA earn $166,920 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $302,460.
Median $166,800 · 10th–90th $85,990–$249,130 · 110 jobs in metro
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in Atlanta, GA earn $166,800 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $249,130.
Median $163,500 · 10th–90th $95,210–$279,520 · 6,700 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Atlanta, GA earn $163,500 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $279,520.
Median $161,250 · 10th–90th $95,080–$286,790 · 5,300 jobs in metro
Human Resources Managers in Atlanta, GA earn $161,250 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $286,790.
Median $149,990 · 10th–90th $87,480–$276,760 · 0 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Atlanta, GA earn $149,990 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $276,760.
Full Ranking (64 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $354,000 | $230,070–$419,740 | $356,855 | 270 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $259,320 | $170,770–$437,630 | $261,411 | 2,060 |
| 3 | Dentist | Healthcare | $222,690 | $93,590–$373,420 | $224,486 | 1,710 |
| 4 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $177,970 | $127,040–$287,740 | $179,405 | 14,430 |
| 5 | Financial Manager | Finance | $171,240 | $100,740–$324,540 | $172,621 | 15,660 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $166,920 | $86,540–$302,460 | $168,266 | 12,080 |
| 7 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $166,800 | $85,990–$249,130 | $168,145 | 110 |
| 8 | Marketing Manager | Management | $163,500 | $95,210–$279,520 | $164,819 | 6,700 |
| 9 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $161,250 | $95,080–$286,790 | $162,550 | 5,300 |
| 10 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $149,990 | $87,480–$276,760 | $151,200 | 0 |
| 11 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $139,870 | $103,170–$175,560 | $140,998 | 6,120 |
| 12 | Lawyer | Legal | $138,210 | $58,750–$328,900 | $139,325 | 18,760 |
| 13 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $137,260 | $72,820–$296,530 | $138,367 | 6,300 |
| 14 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $133,890 | $51,710–$186,150 | $134,970 | 5,880 |
| 15 | Software Developer | Technology | $132,960 | $83,400–$178,330 | $134,032 | 36,300 |
| 16 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $132,500 | $104,950–$172,130 | $133,569 | 5,950 |
| 17 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $131,490 | $79,200–$186,180 | $132,550 | 4,550 |
| 18 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $128,980 | $76,590–$167,620 | $130,020 | 1,610 |
| 19 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $128,830 | $51,030–$189,610 | $129,869 | 450 |
| 20 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $122,570 | $67,810–$166,420 | $123,558 | 2,750 |
| 21 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $119,090 | $69,330–$169,690 | $120,050 | 8,300 |
| 22 | Web Developer | Technology | $118,190 | $64,360–$182,310 | $119,143 | 1,890 |
| 23 | Statistician | Technology | $115,590 | $70,750–$166,800 | $116,522 | 390 |
| 24 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $111,810 | $62,230–$172,110 | $112,712 | 3,970 |
| 25 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $111,410 | $51,410–$268,690 | $112,308 | 69,320 |
| 26 | Database Architect | Technology | $110,950 | $52,580–$163,430 | $111,845 | 1,780 |
| 27 | Data Scientist | Technology | $108,940 | $72,430–$172,130 | $109,819 | 6,820 |
| 28 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $108,730 | $63,370–$188,470 | $109,607 | 13,750 |
| 29 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $108,280 | $40,990–$216,520 | $109,153 | 810 |
| 30 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $106,160 | $76,600–$131,010 | $107,016 | 2,120 |
| 31 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $105,800 | $70,400–$151,960 | $106,653 | 5,270 |
| 32 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $105,540 | $80,550–$126,400 | $106,391 | 0 |
| 33 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $103,990 | $46,180–$352,260 | $104,829 | 4,690 |
| 34 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $103,440 | $81,280–$132,100 | $104,274 | 4,250 |
| 35 | Architect | Engineering | $103,330 | $71,660–$198,350 | $104,163 | 1,940 |
| 36 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $102,860 | $63,360–$129,170 | $103,690 | 2,410 |
| 37 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $102,300 | $76,130–$156,750 | $103,125 | 4,800 |
| 38 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $102,020 | $72,800–$165,990 | $102,843 | 3,070 |
| 39 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $101,910 | $70,200–$138,980 | $102,732 | 1,260 |
| 40 | Management Analyst | Management | $101,220 | $62,870–$171,130 | $102,036 | 26,870 |
| 41 | Network Architect | Technology | $101,000 | $66,520–$151,840 | $101,815 | 6,140 |
| 42 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $100,830 | $69,350–$169,540 | $101,643 | 7,740 |
| 43 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $100,490 | $77,510–$132,230 | $101,300 | 56,460 |
| 44 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $100,370 | $81,140–$114,360 | $101,179 | 4,710 |
| 45 | Web Designer | Technology | $93,590 | $55,040–$146,470 | $94,345 | 990 |
| 46 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $88,000 | $63,810–$160,150 | $88,710 | 6,270 |
| 47 | Accountant | Finance | $85,820 | $56,490–$153,010 | $86,512 | 30,150 |
| 48 | Writer/Author | Creative | $81,990 | $53,790–$133,440 | $82,651 | 490 |
| 49 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $81,720 | $50,800–$135,670 | $82,379 | 3,110 |
| 50 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $79,030 | $37,700–$155,680 | $79,667 | 19,920 |
| 51 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $78,920 | $46,540–$132,630 | $79,556 | 4,750 |
| 52 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $77,650 | $53,100–$172,520 | $78,276 | 1,110 |
| 53 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $77,510 | $52,350–$134,790 | $78,135 | 3,250 |
| 54 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $77,210 | $49,450–$96,860 | $77,833 | 14,830 |
| 55 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $76,570 | $59,530–$98,970 | $77,188 | 23,370 |
| 56 | Loan Officer | Finance | $76,340 | $43,520–$150,850 | $76,956 | 5,550 |
| 57 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $65,530 | $39,100–$105,420 | $66,058 | 6,750 |
| 58 | Paralegal | Legal | $64,080 | $45,500–$105,310 | $64,597 | 10,290 |
| 59 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $62,680 | $36,860–$103,100 | $63,185 | 4,060 |
| 60 | Electrician | Trades | $58,650 | $37,380–$84,000 | $59,123 | 13,430 |
| 61 | Plumber | Trades | $58,380 | $37,900–$81,580 | $58,851 | 5,470 |
| 62 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $51,450 | $36,050–$91,520 | $51,865 | 12,310 |
| 63 | Carpenter | Trades | $50,680 | $37,190–$63,210 | $51,089 | 6,380 |
| 64 | Welder | Trades | $49,630 | $39,100–$69,300 | $50,030 | 5,240 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA is a regional headquarters and logistics hub (Delta, UPS, Coca-Cola, Home Depot) with a strong management and corporate-services pay tier. Cost of living near the national average makes nominal salaries close to actual purchasing power.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Atlanta, GA's cost-of-living index of 99.2 runs 1% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Obstetrician/Gynecologist with five-plus years of experience in Atlanta, GA should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($386,870) or 90th percentile ($419,740), not the $354,000 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $354K Obstetrician/Gynecologist salary in Atlanta, GA (COL 99.2) translates to $357K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Atlanta, GA page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Atlanta, GA is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $354,000 and a 90th-percentile reading of $419,740. The role employs roughly 270 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
44 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in Atlanta, GA have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Atlanta, GA is $114,218. The cost-of-living index is 99.2, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $115,139 in equivalent purchasing power.
Atlanta, GA has a cost-of-living index of 99.2, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Family Medicine Physician, Dentist occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.