Jobs that actually got a raise in Georgia

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Georgia run 3.7% below the national average (2024), so a Georgia salary is worth about 1.04× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Georgia.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Georgia

OccupationMedian, Georgia · Real change since 2019

1General Internal Medicine Physicians$425,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,490 – $581,750+420.8%+555.9% nominal
2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$618,090
Bachelor's degree
$187,570 – $642,610+415.1%+548.7% nominal
3Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$48,800
Bachelor's degree
$21,900 – $73,190+97.5%+148.7% nominal
4Massage Therapists$50,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$19,010 – $83,130+65.0%+107.8% nominal
5Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$128,850
Bachelor's degree
$57,600 – $211,070+53.4%+93.2% nominal
6Skincare Specialists$48,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,670 – $68,630+44.1%+81.5% nominal
7Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$38,870
Bachelor's degree
$20,800 – $45,900+43.7%+81.0% nominal
8Sales and Related Workers, All Other$51,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,370 – $104,810+31.8%+65.9% nominal
9Transportation Security Screeners$66,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,640 – $71,070+31.5%+65.6% nominal
10Food Preparation Workers$35,250
No formal educational credential
$24,840 – $40,390+31.0%+65.0% nominal
11Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$45,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,310 – $57,940+30.6%+64.4% nominal
12Food Batchmakers$46,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,680 – $58,960+27.6%+60.6% nominal
13Couriers and Messengers$39,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,340 – $47,900+25.8%+58.4% nominal
14Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$46,960
No formal educational credential
$31,680 – $60,330+25.6%+58.2% nominal
15Travel Agents$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,170 – $76,700+24.6%+57.0% nominal
16Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$39,330
No formal educational credential
$30,150 – $45,800+24.5%+56.8% nominal
17Food Processing Workers, All Other$37,810
No formal educational credential
$28,300 – $47,960+24.3%+56.6% nominal
18Telemarketers$36,020
No formal educational credential
$28,580 – $41,690+23.1%+55.0% nominal
19Coaches and Scouts$48,210
Bachelor's degree
$27,190 – $80,900+23.0%+54.9% nominal
20Insurance Sales Agents$61,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $161,690+22.6%+54.4% nominal
21Psychiatric Technicians$46,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,530 – $58,130+21.7%+53.2% nominal
22Production Workers, All Other$39,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,380 – $61,730+21.6%+53.1% nominal
23Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$31,530
No formal educational credential
$25,850 – $39,610+21.4%+52.9% nominal
24Residential Advisors$39,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,500 – $60,690+21.1%+52.5% nominal
25Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$30,880
No formal educational credential
$24,420 – $38,480+19.8%+50.9% nominal
26Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$34,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$17,310 – $79,170+19.5%+50.5% nominal
27Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$43,920
Associate's degree
$28,150 – $77,130+19.3%+50.3% nominal
28Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$35,450
No formal educational credential
$25,870 – $42,390+18.1%+48.8% nominal
29Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$60,300
Bachelor's degree
$38,580 – $76,830+17.9%+48.4% nominal
30Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,770
No formal educational credential
$23,310 – $38,260+17.8%+48.3% nominal
31Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$39,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,760 – $50,430+17.6%+48.1% nominal
32Dishwashers$29,730
No formal educational credential
$21,220 – $36,590+17.5%+48.0% nominal
33Dental Hygienists$95,490
Associate's degree
$74,610 – $103,650+17.2%+47.6% nominal
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,310
No formal educational credential
$26,110 – $44,390+16.8%+47.1% nominal
35Driver/Sales Workers$40,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,400 – $60,020+16.5%+46.7% nominal
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,010 – $76,690+16.2%+46.3% nominal
37Nursing Assistants$37,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,300 – $47,310+16.0%+46.1% nominal
38Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$27,850
No formal educational credential
$19,890 – $34,900+15.9%+45.9% nominal
39Dietitians and Nutritionists$73,200
Bachelor's degree
$47,250 – $96,430+15.5%+45.4% nominal
40Fundraisers$72,010
Bachelor's degree
$48,160 – $104,460+15.4%+45.3% nominal
41Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$28,770
Some college, no degree
$21,190 – $39,120+15.2%+45.0% nominal
42Respiratory Therapists$83,700
Associate's degree
$65,050 – $112,320+15.2%+45.0% nominal
43Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$28,920
No formal educational credential
$17,720 – $39,080+15.1%+45.0% nominal
44Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$80,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $116,900+14.7%+44.5% nominal
45Budget Analysts$91,870
Bachelor's degree
$55,050 – $133,090+14.7%+44.4% nominal
46Architectural and Civil Drafters$74,940
Associate's degree
$46,530 – $108,610+14.5%+44.2% nominal
47Orderlies$36,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,020 – $45,160+14.4%+44.1% nominal
48Sewing Machine Operators$34,790
No formal educational credential
$26,950 – $42,100+14.3%+43.9% nominal
49Childcare Workers$28,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,170 – $36,980+14.1%+43.7% nominal
50Phlebotomists$45,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,600 – $55,850+14.0%+43.6% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianGeorgia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$425,460	$103,490 – $581,750	+420.8%+555.9% nominal
2	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$618,090	$187,570 – $642,610	+415.1%+548.7% nominal
3	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$48,800	$21,900 – $73,190	+97.5%+148.7% nominal
4	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,820	$19,010 – $83,130	+65.0%+107.8% nominal
5	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$128,850	$57,600 – $211,070	+53.4%+93.2% nominal
6	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,660	$32,670 – $68,630	+44.1%+81.5% nominal
7	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$38,870	$20,800 – $45,900	+43.7%+81.0% nominal
8	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,570	$32,370 – $104,810	+31.8%+65.9% nominal
9	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,770	$42,640 – $71,070	+31.5%+65.6% nominal
10	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,250	$24,840 – $40,390	+31.0%+65.0% nominal
11	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,500	$37,310 – $57,940	+30.6%+64.4% nominal
12	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,490	$28,680 – $58,960	+27.6%+60.6% nominal
13	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,400	$29,340 – $47,900	+25.8%+58.4% nominal
14	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$46,960	$31,680 – $60,330	+25.6%+58.2% nominal
15	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$30,170 – $76,700	+24.6%+57.0% nominal
16	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$39,330	$30,150 – $45,800	+24.5%+56.8% nominal
17	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$37,810	$28,300 – $47,960	+24.3%+56.6% nominal
18	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$36,020	$28,580 – $41,690	+23.1%+55.0% nominal
19	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$48,210	$27,190 – $80,900	+23.0%+54.9% nominal
20	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,850	$36,340 – $161,690	+22.6%+54.4% nominal
21	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,250	$37,530 – $58,130	+21.7%+53.2% nominal
22	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,900	$29,380 – $61,730	+21.6%+53.1% nominal
23	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$31,530	$25,850 – $39,610	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
24	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,380	$28,500 – $60,690	+21.1%+52.5% nominal
25	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$30,880	$24,420 – $38,480	+19.8%+50.9% nominal
26	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,560	$17,310 – $79,170	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
27	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$43,920	$28,150 – $77,130	+19.3%+50.3% nominal
28	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural ProductsNo formal educational credential	$35,450	$25,870 – $42,390	+18.1%+48.8% nominal
29	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$60,300	$38,580 – $76,830	+17.9%+48.4% nominal
30	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$29,770	$23,310 – $38,260	+17.8%+48.3% nominal
31	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,860	$27,760 – $50,430	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
32	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,730	$21,220 – $36,590	+17.5%+48.0% nominal
33	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,490	$74,610 – $103,650	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
34	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$34,310	$26,110 – $44,390	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
35	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,040	$24,400 – $60,020	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,030	$46,010 – $76,690	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
37	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,680	$30,300 – $47,310	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
38	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$27,850	$19,890 – $34,900	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
39	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$73,200	$47,250 – $96,430	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
40	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$72,010	$48,160 – $104,460	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
41	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$28,770	$21,190 – $39,120	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
42	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$83,700	$65,050 – $112,320	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
43	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$28,920	$17,720 – $39,080	+15.1%+45.0% nominal
44	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,080	$50,440 – $116,900	+14.7%+44.5% nominal
45	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$91,870	$55,050 – $133,090	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
46	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$74,940	$46,530 – $108,610	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
47	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,100	$30,020 – $45,160	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
48	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$34,790	$26,950 – $42,100	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
49	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,020	$22,170 – $36,980	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
50	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,840	$34,600 – $55,850	+14.0%+43.6% nominal

More for Georgia

Metro areas in Georgia

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Georgia

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Georgia to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Georgia

More for Georgia

Metro areas in Georgia

By field in Georgia

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state