Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Athens-Clarke County, GA

Each occupation's median wage in Athens-Clarke County, GA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Athens-Clarke County, GA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Athens-Clarke County, GA run 6.7% below the national average (2024), so a Athens-Clarke County, GA salary is worth about 1.07× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Athens-Clarke County, GA

OccupationMedian, Athens-Clarke County, GA · vs. national

1First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$71,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,190 – $153,640+47.8%
2English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$105,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,420 – $142,640+34.5%
3Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$62,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,990 – $65,660+32.7%
4Chemists$117,990
Bachelor's degree
$64,500 – $151,920+29.3%
5Microbiologists$112,440
Bachelor's degree
$91,210 – $185,870+27.8%
6Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$58,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,910 – $60,790+27.7%
7Massage Therapists$73,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,880 – $77,880+25.5%
8Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$134,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,310 – $172,260+23.0%
9Production Workers, All Other$48,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,710 – $59,630+20.6%
10Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,600
Bachelor's degree
$49,710 – $90,070+19.7%
11Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$53,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $60,330+16.4%
12Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$122,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,640 – $191,570+13.9%
13Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$48,800
Bachelor's degree
$33,620 – $62,460+13.7%
14Biological Technicians$64,360
Bachelor's degree
$49,110 – $83,990+11.9%
15General Internal Medicine Physicians$281,100
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,120 – $281,100+9.6%
16Coaches and Scouts$51,600
Bachelor's degree
$27,280 – $62,130+9.0%
17Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,820
Associate's degree
$42,910 – $98,800+8.8%
18Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$75,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,270 – $133,680+7.2%
19Skincare Specialists$48,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,440 – $85,910+5.9%
20Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$48,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,950 – $54,190+5.8%
21Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,350
Bachelor's degree
$47,770 – $84,620+4.6%
22Industrial Production Managers$131,200
Bachelor's degree
$81,340 – $179,990+4.1%
23Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$51,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,620 – $63,250+3.7%
24Cost Estimators$81,540
Bachelor's degree
$47,200 – $129,900+3.6%
25Insurance Sales Agents$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $229,490+3.5%
26Athletic Trainers$64,590
Master's degree
$33,020 – $170,700+3.3%
27Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,530 – $58,690+3.1%
28Light Truck Drivers$45,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,110 – $93,830+2.1%
29Medical and Health Services Managers$126,420
Bachelor's degree
$70,010 – $206,130+2.1%
30Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$64,940
Bachelor's degree
$50,780 – $77,040+1.8%
31Bus Drivers, School$48,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,320 – $63,620+1.5%
32Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$36,160
No formal educational credential
$27,130 – $45,150+1.4%
33Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$65,210
Bachelor's degree
$46,070 – $80,120+1.3%
34Facilities Managers$108,050
Bachelor's degree
$73,090 – $177,280+1.3%
35School Bus Monitors$35,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,060 – $38,560+1.2%
36Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$51,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,520 – $93,600+1.1%
37New Accounts Clerks$48,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,020 – $61,190+1.0%
38Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$51,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $64,910+0.9%
39Occupational Therapists$101,080
Master's degree
$72,350 – $121,750+0.7%
40First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,810 – $75,260+0.6%
41Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $59,670+0.3%
42Tutors$43,380
Some college, no degree
$18,980 – $78,890+0.1%
43Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,980 – $75,220-0.1%
44Medical Equipment Preparers$47,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,900 – $58,100-0.2%
45Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $80,310-0.7%
46Respiratory Therapists$81,730
Associate's degree
$65,820 – $99,500-0.7%
47Computer Network Support Specialists$75,550
Associate's degree
$53,360 – $107,000-0.9%
48Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$104,770
Master's degree
$78,500 – $125,370-1.0%
49Surgical Technologists$63,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,550 – $78,020-1.1%
50Physical Therapists$101,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,340 – $129,970-1.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAthens-Clarke County, GA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,840	$31,190 – $153,640	+47.8%
2	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,970	$55,420 – $142,640	+34.5%
3	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,600	$40,990 – $65,660	+32.7%
4	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$117,990	$64,500 – $151,920	+29.3%
5	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$112,440	$91,210 – $185,870	+27.8%
6	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,560	$39,910 – $60,790	+27.7%
7	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,330	$42,880 – $77,880	+25.5%
8	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$134,370	$83,310 – $172,260	+23.0%
9	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,360	$28,710 – $59,630	+20.6%
10	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,600	$49,710 – $90,070	+19.7%
11	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,970	$35,090 – $60,330	+16.4%
12	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,180	$66,640 – $191,570	+13.9%
13	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$48,800	$33,620 – $62,460	+13.7%
14	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$64,360	$49,110 – $83,990	+11.9%
15	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$281,100	$99,120 – $281,100	+9.6%
16	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$51,600	$27,280 – $62,130	+9.0%
17	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,820	$42,910 – $98,800	+8.8%
18	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,050	$43,270 – $133,680	+7.2%
19	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,000	$31,440 – $85,910	+5.9%
20	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,600	$32,950 – $54,190	+5.8%
21	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$75,350	$47,770 – $84,620	+4.6%
22	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$131,200	$81,340 – $179,990	+4.1%
23	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,740	$41,620 – $63,250	+3.7%
24	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$81,540	$47,200 – $129,900	+3.6%
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$44,100 – $229,490	+3.5%
26	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$64,590	$33,020 – $170,700	+3.3%
27	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,610	$29,530 – $58,690	+3.1%
28	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,800	$27,110 – $93,830	+2.1%
29	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$126,420	$70,010 – $206,130	+2.1%
30	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$64,940	$50,780 – $77,040	+1.8%
31	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,630	$23,320 – $63,620	+1.5%
32	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$36,160	$27,130 – $45,150	+1.4%
33	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$65,210	$46,070 – $80,120	+1.3%
34	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,050	$73,090 – $177,280	+1.3%
35	School Bus MonitorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,520	$31,060 – $38,560	+1.2%
36	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,170	$31,520 – $93,600	+1.1%
37	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,140	$36,020 – $61,190	+1.0%
38	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,160	$37,630 – $64,910	+0.9%
39	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$101,080	$72,350 – $121,750	+0.7%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,390	$33,810 – $75,260	+0.6%
41	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,160	$34,530 – $59,670	+0.3%
42	TutorsSome college, no degree	$43,380	$18,980 – $78,890	+0.1%
43	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,730	$23,980 – $75,220	-0.1%
44	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,600	$36,900 – $58,100	-0.2%
45	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,280	$37,770 – $80,310	-0.7%
46	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,730	$65,820 – $99,500	-0.7%
47	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,550	$53,360 – $107,000	-0.9%
48	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$104,770	$78,500 – $125,370	-1.0%
49	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,950	$46,550 – $78,020	-1.1%
50	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,570	$75,340 – $129,970	-1.2%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Athens-Clarke County, GA

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