Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA
Atlanta-Sandy Springs pays marketing specialists close to the national norm. The median is $79,030 a year[1], 4.2% above the Georgia statewide median of $75,850 and about level with the US median of $78,760. Only 35 of 516 US areas pay more for this job. With about 19,920 marketing specialists, 72% of the Georgia total, no area in Georgia employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1161, 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 | $37,700 | $79,030 | $155,680 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $37,700 | $75,850 | $148,910 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $155,680 or more, 4.1 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of marketing specialists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs earns $55,000–$120,020. The mean ($88,200) is 12% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,700 | $3,142 | $18.12 | $53,857 |
| 25th percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26.44 | $78,571 |
| Median | $79,030 | $6,586 | $38.00 | $112,900 |
| 75th percentile | $120,020 | $10,002 | $57.70 | $171,457 |
| 90th percentile | $155,680 | $12,973 | $74.85 | $222,400 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $40,990 a year in pay and about $58,557 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $24,030 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 $33,870 to the $79,030 median and brings it to $112,900 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 marketing specialists 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 #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,400 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $37,530.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +30.8% | 21,060 | |
| Accountant | +8.6% | 30,150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 19,920 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -0.1% | 33,900 | |
| Recruiter | -4.6% | 20,920 | |
| Executive Assistant | -8.8% | 10,060 | |
| Office Manager | -11.4% | 25,800 | |
| Paralegal | -18.9% | 10,290 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -20.7% | 4,260 | |
| Bookkeeper | -35.3% | 22,480 | |
| HR Assistant | -38.3% | 1,360 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -41.3% | 22,590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -42.7% | 25,280 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -44.7% | 1,090 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -44.8% | 1,810 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -46.0% | 59,990 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -52.5% | 15,710 |
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 17 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $53,510 in the North Georgia nonmetro area to $79,040 in Dalton, a gap of $25,530 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Atlanta-Sandy Springs | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GA | +0.0% | 260 | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | this area | 19,920 | |
| Savannah, GA | -10.3% | 690 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -13.9% | 470 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -16.7% | 420 | |
| Valdosta, GA | -18.0% | 110 | |
| Gainesville, GA | -18.3% | 290 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA?
About $112,900 a year at the median, or $9,408 a month: $79,030 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 do marketing specialists earn in Atlanta-Sandy Springs?
The median was $79,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,700, the 90th $155,680, and the middle half earned $55,000 to $120,020.
Is Atlanta-Sandy Springs cheaper than the rest of Georgia for marketing specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $79,030 against $75,850 statewide. Dalton pays the most ($79,040) and the North Georgia nonmetro area the least ($53,510).
How many marketing specialists work in Atlanta-Sandy Springs?
BLS counts about 19,920 in the May 2025 survey. That is 72% of the Georgia total of 27,810.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than a sales development representative in Atlanta-Sandy Springs?
Yes: $80 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,030 and $78,950.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.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.