Cost of hiring an accountant in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA
Atlanta-Sandy Springs is the most expensive place in Georgia to hire an accountant. The median is $85,820 a year[1], 4.8% above the Georgia statewide median of $81,900 and 2.6% above the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#56 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Georgia: about 30,150 people, 68% of the Georgia total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Atlanta-Sandy Springs against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | $56,490 | $85,820 | $153,010 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $51,830 | $81,900 | $145,960 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $153,010, 2.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Atlanta-Sandy Springs earns $68,510–$116,090. The mean ($97,920) is 14% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,490 | $4,708 | $27.16 | $80,700 |
| 25th percentile | $68,510 | $5,709 | $32.94 | $97,871 |
| Median | $85,820 | $7,152 | $41.26 | $122,600 |
| 75th percentile | $116,090 | $9,674 | $55.81 | $165,843 |
| 90th percentile | $153,010 | $12,751 | $73.56 | $218,586 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $30,270 a year in pay and about $43,243 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $17,310 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Atlanta-Sandy Springs
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $36,780 to the $85,820 median and brings it to $122,600 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Atlanta-Sandy Springs
Of the 17 roles we track in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,400 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $37,530.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +20.5% | 21,060 | |
| Accountant | this role | 30,150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.9% | 19,920 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -8.0% | 33,900 | |
| Recruiter | -12.1% | 20,920 | |
| Executive Assistant | -16.0% | 10,060 | |
| Office Manager | -18.4% | 25,800 | |
| Paralegal | -25.3% | 10,290 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -26.9% | 4,260 | |
| Bookkeeper | -40.4% | 22,480 | |
| HR Assistant | -43.2% | 1,360 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -46.0% | 22,590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -47.3% | 25,280 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -49.1% | 1,090 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -49.2% | 1,810 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -50.2% | 59,990 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -56.3% | 15,710 |
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $67,800 in Hinesville to $85,820 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, a gap of $18,020 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Atlanta-Sandy Springs | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | this area | 30,150 | |
| Savannah, GA | -7.0% | 1,360 | |
| Warner Robins, GA | -8.5% | 390 | |
| Dalton, GA | -9.8% | 450 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -10.6% | 1,280 | |
| Middle Georgia (Nonmetro) | -11.0% | 780 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -11.6% | 570 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA?
About $122,600 a year at the median, or $10,217 a month: $85,820 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Atlanta-Sandy Springs?
The median was $85,820 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $56,490, the 90th $153,010, and the middle half earned $68,510 to $116,090.
Is Atlanta-Sandy Springs the most expensive area in Georgia for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $85,820 is the highest of 18 areas in Georgia. Savannah comes next at $79,790.
How many accountants work in Atlanta-Sandy Springs?
BLS counts about 30,150 in the May 2025 survey. That is 68% of the Georgia total of 44,020.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Atlanta-Sandy Springs?
Yes: $6,790 a year more at the median. The medians are $85,820 and $79,030.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.