
Highest-paying jobs in Atlanta
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Atlanta, the annual mean wage is $59,100 or 1.4% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $338,680. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Atlanta metro area
#50. Financial risk specialists
- Annual mean salary: $115,000
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,610
- Employment: 54,320
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($146,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($141,890)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($141,590)

#49. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $116,460
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)
#48. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $117,540
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,510
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)

#47. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $118,100
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 36,080
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)

#46. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $118,570
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Atlanta

#45. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $118,790
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)
#44. Administrative services managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,680
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,510
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)
#43. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $120,040
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#42. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $120,110
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,430
- Employment: 42,080
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,310)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($146,040)

#41. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Annual mean salary: $120,710
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,520
- Employment: 27,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($225,610)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($208,310)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($200,980)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in Atlanta, according to Tripadvisor

#40. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $122,480
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

#39. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $124,440
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)
#38. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $126,070
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#37. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $126,200
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)

#36. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $126,440
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)
You may also like: Highest paying jobs in Atlanta that require a bachelor's degree
#35. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $126,840
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)
#34. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,210
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

#33. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $129,140
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#32. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $129,270
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)

#31. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $131,110
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)
You may also like: Metros sending the most people to Atlanta

#30. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $131,300
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#29. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $131,440
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#28. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $134,820
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#27. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $135,580
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)
#26. Medical dosimetrists
- Annual mean salary: $140,300
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,750
- Employment: 2,400
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,120)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($140,710)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($140,300)
You may also like: Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Atlanta
#25. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $142,570
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,380
- Employment: 8,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($231,930)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($219,920)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($205,040)
#24. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $144,380
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#23. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $145,860
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,970
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
#22. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $146,740
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)
#21. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $148,590
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Atlanta, according to Tripadvisor
#20. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $150,660
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)
#19. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $152,440
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
#18. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $152,750
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $130,820
- Employment: 14,110
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($165,990)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($152,750)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($152,190)
#17. Air traffic controllers
- Annual mean salary: $153,770
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $127,920
- Employment: 21,230
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($158,210)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($154,180)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($153,770)

#16. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $154,030
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
You may also like: Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Atlanta
#15. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $161,100
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)
#14. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $162,470
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#13. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $163,070
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
#12. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $165,800
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)
#11. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $169,090
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Atlanta, according to Tripadvisor
#10. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $170,870
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)
#9. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $188,310
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)

#8. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $207,460
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)
#7. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $218,200
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
#6. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $223,610
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $270,090
- Employment: 11,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($356,830)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($355,740)
--- York-Hanover, PA ($344,470)
You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Atlanta, according to Tripadvisor

#5. Actuaries
- Annual mean salary: $245,520
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,300
- Employment: 23,040
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($245,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,550)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($144,320)
#4. Anesthesiologists
- Annual mean salary: $307,730
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $331,190
- Employment: 31,130
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($367,320)
--- Tallahassee, FL ($363,190)
--- Fort Wayne, IN ($358,430)
#3. Radiologists
- Annual mean salary: $330,350
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $301,720
- Employment: 29,530
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($370,570)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($358,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($358,450)
#2. Neurologists
- Annual mean salary: $336,230
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,660
- Employment: 7,120
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($350,140)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($348,500)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($346,670)
#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $338,680
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $296,210
- Employment: 21,570
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($377,980)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($375,200)
--- Modesto, CA ($362,780)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Atlanta