Cost of hiring in Athens-Clarke County, GA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 15 jobs in Athens-Clarke County, with about 1,180 people1. Medians run from $34,290 a year for virtual receptionists to $82,430 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Athens-Clarke County
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | -6.5% | 820 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -9.2% | 80 | |
| Executive Assistant | -9.3% | 250 | |
| Accountant | -9.3% | 570 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -9.8% | 690 | |
| HR Assistant | -13.4% | 40 | |
| Office Manager | -14.8% | 650 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -16.4% | 420 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -17.7% | 980 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.9% | 1,180 | |
| Project Coordinator | -19.4% | 250 | |
| Paralegal | -22.3% | 200 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -24.0% | 910 | |
| Recruiter | -24.5% | 420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -29.2% | 400 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $36,320 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $46,865 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Athens-Clarke County against the US
Athens-Clarke County pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for bookkeepers (-6.5%) and payroll specialists (-9.2%) and largest for sales development representatives (-29.2%). The middle gap across all 15 is -16.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for executive assistants, #135 of 509 areas by median pay; its lowest is for administrative assistants, #506 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Athens-Clarke County has more medical administrative assistants (12.5% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.8% against 5.8%), and fewer project coordinators (3.2% against 6.8%) and sales development representatives (5.1% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Jackson, TN is nearest, at -16.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | -16.4% | 16 | 5,530 |
| Victoria, TX | -16.4% | 13 | 3,320 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -16.4% (this area) | 15 | 7,860 |
| Jackson, TN | -16.5% | 17 | 7,250 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | -16.5% | 15 | 4,800 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -16.5% | 15 | 5,000 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Athens-Clarke County span $27,720–$102,020, the widest band (3.7×); HR assistants the narrowest, $37,260–$57,450. Wider than nationally for administrative assistants and accountants, narrower for HR assistants and executive assistants. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, accountants and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($61,880 against a $49,540 median for sales development representatives).
Athens-Clarke County against Georgia (US state)
Against Georgia (US state) as a whole, Athens-Clarke County pays more only for executive assistants (+1.7%), and less for 14, most of all sales development representatives (-34.2%). Its best rank within Georgia (US state) is #2 of 18 areas, for executive assistants.
Other areas in Georgia
By jobs in these roles, Athens-Clarke County is #10 of 18 areas in Georgia. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the North Georgia nonmetro area to Valdosta.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | 12,950 | 17 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 11,380 | 17 |
| Middle Georgia (Nonmetro) | 10,290 | 17 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | 8,500 | 16 |
| Gainesville, GA | 8,420 | 17 |
| East Georgia (Nonmetro) | 6,290 | 16 |
| Dalton, GA | 5,620 | 17 |
| Albany, GA | 5,610 | 15 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 5,090 | 15 |
| Valdosta, GA | 4,420 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Athens-Clarke County?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $82,430 a year, about $106,361 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,290.
Is hiring in Athens-Clarke County cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-29.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.