Atlanta Employment

Employment and Industries in the Atlanta, Georgia Area

Atlanta is the the most populous city in the the state of Georgia. The Atlanta'sandy Spring'sMarietta metropolitan area is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Similar to other large metropolitan areas, the Atlanta metropolitan area has a large concentration of business and commerce. According to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta ranks third in the nation behind New York and Houston among cities with the most FORTUNE 500 headquarters. Over twenty companies located in metro-Atlanta are on the FORTUNE 1000 list. Greater than seventy percent of all FORTUNE 1,000 companies have a presence in metro Atlanta.

In 2004, Inc. magazine ranked Atlanta as the top city in the United States for "Doing Business in America" in the "large cities" category. Atlanta has ranked in the top 50 ever since. The criteria used "emphasizes the robustness of a region's growth". Large and significant cities who have a "tangible effect on global affairs through socioeconomic, cultural, and/or political means" (Wikipedia) get ranked as "Global Cities" (also known as world cities or world-class cities) by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network (GaWC). GaWC has three tiers of ranking, alpha (first-tier), beta (second-tier) and gamma (third tier). Atlanta is one of only eleven U.S. global cities ranked as a "World City". Atlanta is ranked as a "Gamma World City" by GaWC, on a par with Miami and Minneapolis. Other notable Atlanta business awards include:

  • Third on Expansion Management Magazine's list of "America's 50 Hottest Citiesfor Business Expansion & Relocation" (November 2005)
  • First on KPMG'S 2006 "Competitive Alternatives Study" "Least Expensive Cities" list (2006)
  • Fifth on Site Selection Magazine's list of "Top Ten Metros" (March, 2006)
  • Tenth on the CNN MONEY.com/BUSINESS 2.0 list of "Ten Hot Cities for Job Growth" (May 2006)
  • Second on EWEEK Magazine's "Beyond the Valley: 10 Blooming U.S. Cities for Tech" list

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Atlanta ranks twentieth on the list of US cities who receive the most annual funding from the NIH. Metro Atlanta is also home to the world-renowned U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, American Cancer Society, Arthritis Foundation, as well as many distinguished medical research universities such as Emory University, the University of Georgia and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Atlanta has a highly educated workforce. It ranks seventh in the United States for the percent of its population that has completed college.

Atlanta is a major center of regional commerce that also boasts an especially strong convention/trade show business. Atlanta is also a major cable television programming center including the Cartoon Network, CNN, The Weather Channel, and many others. Major industries in and around Atlanta include:

  • Construction
  • Educational and health services
  • Financial Services
  • Health services
  • Government
  • High-technology (Atlanta is among the top five fastest growing high-technology metro areas in the United States, according to a NewsWeek study)
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional and business services
  • Trade, transportation, and utilities

The Atlanta metropolitan area is served by the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is one of the busiest passenger airports in the world, and a major hub for Delta Airlines. The airport ranks seventh in the United States for for nonstop international air travel according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Some major companies of note in and around Atlanta include:

  • Arby's
  • BellSouth
  • Cingular Wireless
  • The Cable News Network (CNN)
  • The Coca-Cola Company, which was started in Atlanta
  • Cox Communications
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Earthlink
  • Equifax
  • Georgia-Pacific
  • Home Depot, which was started in Atlanta
  • Hooters of America, Inc.
  • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
  • Newell Rubbermaid
  • Rayovac
  • Rollins/Orkin
  • Scientific-Atlanta
  • Siemens
  • Southern Company
  • SunTrust Bank
  • Turner Broadcasting
  • United Parcel Service
  • The Weather Channel
  • World Airways
  • Delta Airlines

Some of the major business organizations in and around Atlanta include:

The Atlanta Business Chronicle, and the Business Section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution are excellent sources of information on business in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Jobs in Atlanta

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations2743550$54,110$26.01100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations361550$40,300$19.3713.75
3Sales and Related Occupations300520$42,750$20.559.5
4Transportation and Material Moving Occupations271270$36,500$17.556.7
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations249650$23,270$11.198.7
6Business and Financial Operations Occupations192130$77,730$37.375.35
7Management Occupations191600$125,800$60.486.35
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations156360$53,240$25.596
9Production Occupations144500$36,870$17.735.6
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations135670$81,780$39.325.85
11Computer and Mathematical Occupations128030$90,930$43.723
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations103050$50,010$24.053.75
13Construction and Extraction Occupations89710$46,230$22.234.6
14Retail Salespersons85990$27,080$13.022.7
15Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand78010$29,780$14.321.8
16Healthcare Support Occupations74130$32,180$15.472.85
17Fast Food and Counter Workers73840$20,210$9.722.45
18Customer Service Representatives73800$37,090$17.831.75
19Cashiers67090$22,010$10.582.2
20Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations63500$28,370$13.643.6
21Protective Service Occupations62560$41,260$19.842.2
22General and Operations Managers55440$123,390$59.321.5
23Waiters and Waitresses54390$22,170$10.661.65
24Personal Care and Service Occupations53490$29,590$14.234.65
25Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations49320$59,420$28.571.8
26Office Clerks, General42260$34,220$16.451.9
27Architecture and Engineering Occupations41510$85,510$41.111.7
28Registered Nurses40830$73,610$35.391.95
29Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers40400$103,490$49.750.65
30Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive39700$36,190$17.41.4
31Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers36960$47,060$22.631.2
32Stockers and Order Fillers35320$27,920$13.421.25
33Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other33930$78,520$37.750.7
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products33300$70,660$33.970.85
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers31420$59,400$28.560.95
36Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel30380$66,660$32.050.7
37Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners30320$25,400$12.211.5
38Community and Social Service Occupations27590$52,350$25.171.75
39Accountants and Auditors27560$83,380$40.080.9
40Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators27370$30,820$14.820.8
41Legal Occupations26650$104,980$50.470.8
42Cooks, Restaurant25220$27,160$13.060.9
43Security Guards23440$27,090$13.030.7
44Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks23130$43,490$20.911.05
45Maintenance and Repair Workers, General22690$40,310$19.380.9
46Home Health and Personal Care Aides22680$26,530$12.750
47First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers21460$45,290$21.770.95
48Food Preparation Workers21390$22,950$11.030.5
49First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers21140$32,990$15.860.6
50Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators19480$39,190$18.840.4
51Construction Laborers18580$34,030$16.360.9
52Light Truck Drivers18460$38,490$18.510.6
53Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations18330$73,850$35.50.8
54Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks18220$34,570$16.620.4
55Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists17590$71,510$34.380.45
56Computer Occupations, All Other17180$94,460$45.410.3
57Computer User Support Specialists17150$55,570$26.710.4
58Nursing Assistants16920$30,400$14.620.95
59Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other16760$117,040$56.270.7
60Medical Assistants16410$35,060$16.860.45
61Computer Systems Analysts16280$91,690$44.080.4
62Management Analysts16270$97,600$46.920.55
63Lawyers15540$136,850$65.790.5
64Receptionists and Information Clerks15360$30,030$14.440.7
65Human Resources Specialists15110$65,650$31.570.4
66Packers and Packagers, Hand15060$24,480$11.770.4
67Financial Managers14410$153,540$73.820.4
68Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers13710$30,620$14.720.75
69Computer and Information Systems Managers12790$152,560$73.340.3
70Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity12450$30,060$14.450.3
71Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics12390$45,540$21.90.5
72Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants12190$38,290$18.410.4
73Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers12010$48,800$23.460.4
74Sales Managers11950$147,970$71.140.3
75First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers11650$67,990$32.690.4
76Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other11220$89,820$43.180.2
77Driver/Sales Workers11080$29,300$14.090.3
78Electricians11080$54,060$25.990.45
79First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors11060$55,380$26.630.3
80Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers10550$37,410$17.990.35
81Childcare Workers10430$22,270$10.710.7
82First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers10290$63,880$30.710.4
83Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses9980$44,870$21.570.5
84Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners9960$21,820$10.490.9
85Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop9900$20,710$9.960.3
86First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers9860$69,030$33.190.3
87Billing and Posting Clerks9650$39,890$19.180.3
88Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants9090$65,920$31.690.35
89Insurance Sales Agents9070$60,830$29.240.3
90Dishwashers8860$20,990$10.090.3
91Cooks, Fast Food8750$21,920$10.540.3
92Counter and Rental Clerks8590$30,190$14.510.3
93Substitute Teachers, Short-Term8580$25,130$12.080.4
94Paralegals and Legal Assistants8460$56,560$27.190.2
95Instructional Coordinators8360$70,200$33.750.1
96Carpenters8210$51,980$24.990.6
97Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents8100$82,520$39.670.3
98Buyers and Purchasing Agents8010$74,650$35.890.25
99Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education7990$31,630$15.210.3
100Marketing Managers7910$145,360$69.890.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Atlanta Graduate Schools
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Jobs More Common Near Atlanta Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$54,1102,743,550
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,300361,550
Sales and Related Occupations$42,750300,520
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,500271,270
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$23,270249,650
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$77,730192,130
Management Occupations$125,800191,600
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,240156,360
Production Occupations$36,870144,500
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$81,780135,670
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$90,930128,030
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$50,010103,050
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,23089,710
Retail Salespersons$27,08085,990
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,78078,010
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,18074,130
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,21073,840
Customer Service Representatives$37,09073,800
Cashiers$22,01067,090
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,37063,500
Protective Service Occupations$41,26062,560
General and Operations Managers$123,39055,440
Waiters and Waitresses$22,17054,390
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,59053,490
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$59,42049,320
Office Clerks, General$34,22042,260
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$85,51041,510
Registered Nurses$73,61040,830
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$103,49040,400
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,19039,700
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,06036,960
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,92035,320
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,52033,930
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,66033,300
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,40031,420
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$66,66030,380
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,40030,320
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,35027,590
Accountants and Auditors$83,38027,560
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$30,82027,370
Legal Occupations$104,98026,650
Cooks, Restaurant$27,16025,220
Security Guards$27,09023,440
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,49023,130
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$40,31022,690
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,53022,680
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,29021,460
Food Preparation Workers$22,95021,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$32,99021,140
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$39,19019,480

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Atlanta, Georgia Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$54,1102,743,550
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,300361,550
Sales and Related Occupations$42,750300,520
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,500271,270
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$77,730192,130
Management Occupations$125,800191,600
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,240156,360
Production Occupations$36,870144,500
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$81,780135,670
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$90,930128,030
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$50,010103,050
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,23089,710
Retail Salespersons$27,08085,990
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$29,78078,010
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,18074,130
Customer Service Representatives$37,09073,800
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,37063,500
Protective Service Occupations$41,26062,560
General and Operations Managers$123,39055,440
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,59053,490
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$59,42049,320
Office Clerks, General$34,22042,260
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$85,51041,510
Registered Nurses$73,61040,830
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$103,49040,400
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,19039,700
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,06036,960
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,92035,320
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,52033,930
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,66033,300
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,40031,420
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$66,66030,380
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,40030,320
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,35027,590
Accountants and Auditors$83,38027,560
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$30,82027,370
Legal Occupations$104,98026,650
Cooks, Restaurant$27,16025,220
Security Guards$27,09023,440
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,49023,130
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$40,31022,690
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,53022,680
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,29021,460
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$32,99021,140
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$39,19019,480
Construction Laborers$34,03018,580
Light Truck Drivers$38,49018,460
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$73,85018,330
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$34,57018,220
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$71,51017,590

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