Accountant Salary

Accountant Salary in Georgia: $86,019 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Georgia's 40 metropolitan areas, the average median accountant pay sits at $86,019/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 13-2011. Because Georgia sits at BEA RPP 93.1 (7% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $92,394 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sandy Springs ($87,499), Atlanta ($85,820), Roswell ($83,874).

Accountant Salary in Georgia - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Georgia accountant salary overview (2026)
$86,019
Avg Median Salary
$41.36
Avg Hourly Rate
37,974
Metro Employed
40
Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for accountants in Georgia is projected to be $86,019, slightly exceeding the national median of $85,864 by 0.2%. The salary range among cities in Georgia varies significantly, with Sandy Springs offering the highest average salary at $89,783, while Hinesville presents the lowest at $69,570. This $20,213 gap can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for financial services, and the concentration of businesses in metropolitan areas. Georgia's licensing requirements and regulations for accountants align with national standards but may vary in scope depending on specialization. Strong demand for accounting professionals, driven by the growth of businesses and economic activity in urban centers like Atlanta and Sandy Springs, positively affects job prospects. The projected annual growth rate for the accounting field in Georgia stands at 2.61%, indicating a steady need for financial expertise. With a total of 37,974 accountants employed across 40 metro areas, prospects appear solid in both major cities and smaller communities. The top five cities projected for 2026 ranked by salary include Sandy Springs at $89,783, Atlanta at $88,060, Roswell at $86,063, Savannah at $81,873, and Warner Robins at $80,610.

Georgia Accountant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$56,381
avg across 40 cities
Median
$86,019
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$152,023
avg across 40 cities

Overall salary range in Georgia: $44,656 (lowest entry-level) to $157,004 (highest top earner)

Georgia vs National Average

Georgia
$86,019
National Median
$85,864

Georgia accountants earn 0.18% more than the national median (+$155/year difference).

Georgia Accountant Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Georgia accountant salary percentiles: 10th percentile $56,381, 25th $68,544, Median $86,019, 75th $115,366, 90th $152,023. US national median is $85,864.$42.6K$85.1K$127.7K$170.3K$56.4K10thEntry Level$68.5K25thEarly Career$86.0KMedianMid Career$115.4K75thExperienced$152.0K90thTop EarnerUS Median $85.9K

Accountant salaries in Georgia range from $56,381 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $152,023 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $86,019. The Georgia median is $155 above the US national median of $85,864. The average hourly rate is $41.36/hr. Approximately 37,974 accountants are employed across 40 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$72,698

2025 BLS Actual

$83,831

2026 Current Est.

$86,019

2019–2027 Growth

+21.4%

Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Georgia (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for accountants in Georgia. Baseline $72,698 in 2025, projected to $88,265 by 2027.$69.6K$75.0K$80.5K$85.9K$91.4K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$72.7K$75.0K$74.4K$76.3K$78.9K$80.4K$83.8K$86.0K$88.3K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$72,698Actual
2020$75,048Actual
2021$74,428Actual
2022$76,296Actual
2023$78,945Actual
2024$80,369Actual
2025$83,831Actual
2026(current)$86,019Estimated
2027$88,265Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Georgia metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 15.3% from $72,698 (2019) to $83,831 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,265 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,567 (21.41%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Georgia metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.61% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Georgia

#1
Sandy Springs
18 employed · $43.17/hr
$89,783
+4.38% vs avg
#2
Atlanta
30,150 employed · $42.34/hr
$88,060
+2.37% vs avg
#3
Roswell
19 employed · $41.37/hr
$86,063
+0.05% vs avg
#4
Savannah
1,360 employed · $39.36/hr
$81,873
-4.82% vs avg
#5
Warner Robins
390 employed · $38.76/hr
$80,610
-6.29% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Georgia

CityMedian Salary
Hinesville$69,570
Griffin$71,709
Canton$73,071
Tucker$73,244
Peachtree City$73,429

Best Value Cities for Accountants in Georgia

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Georgia cities offer the most purchasing power for accountants.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Sandy Springs$89,78393.1$96,437
Roswell$86,06393.1$92,441
Dalton$79,43089.844$88,409
Atlanta$88,060100.058$88,009
Brunswick$77,01987.708$87,813

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Georgia

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$56,381
Mid Career (3-7 years)$86,019
Experienced (7+ years)$152,023

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Georgia metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 40 Cities in Georgia

#CityMedian Salary
1Sandy Springs$89,783
2Atlanta$88,060
3Roswell$86,063
4Savannah$81,873
5Warner Robins$80,610
6Dalton$79,430
7Augusta$78,712
8Athens$77,881
9Alpharetta$77,874
10South Fulton$77,784
11Gainesville$77,163
12Brookhaven$77,086
13Brunswick$77,019
14Macon$76,824
15Rome$76,588
16Lawrenceville$76,552
17Statesboro$76,468
18Woodstock$76,379
19Stockbridge$76,265
20Pooler$76,157
21Albany$75,911
22Marietta$75,688
23Peachtree Corners$75,679
24Columbus$75,562
25Johns Creek$75,353
26Valdosta$75,336
27Evans$74,775
28Douglasville$74,703
29Dunwoody$74,699
30Smyrna$74,620
31McDonough$74,303
32Newnan$74,183
33Milton$74,153
34Kennesaw$73,597
35Cartersville$73,431
36Peachtree City$73,429
37Tucker$73,244
38Canton$73,071
39Griffin$71,709
40Hinesville$69,570

More Georgia Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore accountant hourly pay in Georgia cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new accountants.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced accountants.

Compare Cities in Georgia

View all comparisons →

Explore More Accountant Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do accountants make in Georgia in 2026?

The average median accountant salary in Georgia is $86,019/year across 40 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $69,570 in Hinesville to $89,783 in Sandy Springs. This makes Georgia one of the higher-paying states, at 0.18% above the national median of $85,864. The state employs approximately 37,974 accountants.

What is the highest paying city for accountants in Georgia?

Sandy Springs offers the highest accountant salary in Georgia at $89,783/year ($43.17/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sandy Springs ($89,783), Atlanta ($88,060), Roswell ($86,063). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for accounting services, and competition among employers for licensed accountants.

How does Georgia accountant pay compare to the national average?

Georgia's average accountant salary of $86,019 is 0.18% above the national median of $85,864 in 2026. The state employs approximately 37,974 accountants across 40 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level accountant salary in Georgia?

Entry-level accountants (10th percentile) in Georgia earn approximately $56,381/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $44,656 in lower-paying areas to $58,392 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many accountants are employed in Georgia?

Georgia employs approximately 37,974 accountants across 40 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Georgia one of the larger employers of accountants nationally. Demand continues to grow as the accounting field expands and the population ages.

Which Georgia city offers the best value for accountants?

When adjusted for cost of living, Sandy Springs offers the highest purchasing power for accountants in Georgia, with an adjusted salary of $96,437 (nominal: $89,783, CoL index: 93.1). This means your dollar goes 7% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
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Written by Sofia Patel, CPA

Career Analyst

Sofia Patel has over 10 years of experience in financial analysis. She specializes in tax preparation for small businesses. She has worked in both corporate and public accounting environments.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Chen, CMAData verified by Amina Khan, MBA

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 accountant compensation across Georgia. State averages are employment-weighted across 40 metro areas — larger metro areas with more accountantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.61%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for accountants (SOC 13-2011).

Compiled and verified by Sofia Patel, CPA, a licensed accountant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

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