Chief Executive Salary in Atlanta, GA
Chief Executives in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $239,200+ a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $186,336 take-home, or $15,528 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$59,671
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$4,682
- Georgia income tax$13,692
- Take-home pay$186,336
Marginal rate: 35% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chief Executive pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,090 | $46.68 | $72,717 | $6,060 |
| 25th percentile | $149,990 | $72.11 | $106,622 | $8,885 |
| Median (50th) | $275,820+ | $132.61 | $186,336 | $15,528 |
| 75th percentile | $418,050+ | $200.99 | $268,061 | $22,338 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $581,990+ | $279.80 | $362,261 | $30,188 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $239,200+ buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $186,336 take-home pay has the buying power of $186,228 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #4 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $239,200+ | $201,659 | $196,637 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $239,200+ | $186,336 | $186,228 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $239,200+ | $198,593 | $176,428 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $239,200+ | $181,719 | $157,179 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $238,440 | $154,548 | $138,128 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $209,980 | $142,627 | $136,066 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
About the job: chief executives
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Atlanta, GA?
The median chief executive salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $239,200+ a year, or about $132.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $149,990 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $239,200+ salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $186,336 a year ($15,528 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,692 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $186,228 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #4 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 11% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $177,970
- Financial Manager — $171,240
- Sales Manager — $166,920
- Purchasing Manager — $165,910
- Marketing Manager — $163,500
- Human Resources Manager — $161,250
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $137,260
- Managers, All Other — $130,340
- Industrial Production Manager — $127,660
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $127,520
- Construction Manager — $119,590
- Administrative Services Manager — $113,230