Chief Executive Salary in Atlanta, GA
Chief Executives in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $275,820 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
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 $275,820 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 #16 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $275,820 | $186,336 | $186,228 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
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 $275,820 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 $275,820 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 #16 of 55 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
- Compensation and Benefits Manager — $166,100
- Purchasing Manager — $165,910
- Marketing Manager — $163,500
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $162,410
- Human Resources Manager — $161,250
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $137,260
- Public Relations Manager — $136,490
- Training and Development Manager — $134,750
- Managers, All Other — $130,340