The tech scene in Atlanta is red hot, proving why it’s earned the title “Silicon Valley of the South.” Year over year, Atlanta has seen a rise in tech employment to outpace national trends. It’s become a FinTech and digital media supercenter, hosting several global players in the payment processing sphere and tech behemoths. Atlanta is one of the country’s fastest-growing tech hubs, attracting major businesses and top talent. Notable areas of growth include full-stack web development, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
IT Career Paths & Salaries in Atlanta
As Atlanta’s tech job market has taken off to outpace many other major cities, there are many great IT career paths that allow IT professionals to showcase their talents and contribute to this industry. Whether you are a skilled Data Analyst or a Cloud Engineer, there are many job opportunities in Atlanta’s top industries. Salaries can go further here, with the cost of living in Atlanta being 2% lower than the national average. Earning a six-figure salary can be life-changing. The average salary for an IT professional in Atlanta is about $105,000.
- A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software to meet user needs while achieving business goals using engineering principles and programming skills. The average salary for a Software Engineer in Atlanta is $111,000.
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Data Analysts collect, process, and analyze data to facilitate data-driven decision-making in an organization. A Data Analyst in Transaction Alley can earn an average salary of $82,000.
- UX Designers craft user-friendly experiences in digital products by conducting user research, designing wireframes and prototypes, and performing usability testing. A UX Designer typically earns an average salary of $116,000 here.
- A Cloud Engineer is responsible for cloud infrastructure. They can develop cloud systems with coding, design cloud solutions for organizations, and work with cloud networks to facilitate an organization’s scalability. Cloud Engineers in Atlanta can earn an average salary of $106,000.
- DevOps Engineers bridge software development and IT operations, focusing on optimizing and automating software development to improve the quality and efficiency of software. A DevOps Engineer typically earns an average salary of $111,000.
- Cybersecurity Analysts protect an organization’s digital assets and analyze security breaches by conducting risk assessments, implementing security measures like network access controls, and monitoring for security threats. A Cybersecurity Analyst earns an average salary of $95,000 in Atlanta.
- A Full Stack Web Developer creates and maintains the front-end and back-end of websites and web applications using programming skills, database management, and user interface (UI) design. These professionals earn an average salary of $100,000.
Atlanta’s IT Industry & Top Employers
Atlanta has a highly diverse economy. Technology, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and logistics are key industries that have made Atlanta such an attractive city for companies to locate. Even the industries that aren’t related to tech have implemented technology into their infrastructure. You’ll find that the finance and FinTech industries rely heavily on IT skills to build and maintain their websites, analyze data, build and monitor cloud solutions, and protect digital assets. With several top-performing schools in the area, including Georgia Tech, Emory University, and Mercer University, there is a deep talent pool of eager new graduates ready to begin their careers in IT.
The technology industry is the city’s largest employer of IT professionals in a wide range of roles. You’ll find many startups that need IT professionals and major employers with global name recognition. The FinTech industry is next in line. Atlanta is called “Transaction Alley” because it processes 70% of all global payments. This deep integration of finance with technology requires a skilled IT workforce that can help facilitate the needs of this fast-growing sector. Although finance skills may not be needed in this industry for certain IT roles, those interested in getting into FinTech may find it useful.
Both the finance and healthcare industries rely on IT professionals for a range of tasks. Database management, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, data analysis, and cloud architecture are critical to efficiency and efficacy in these industries. There is a lot of sensitive consumer and patient data in these industries that need to be properly secured and maintained. Skilled IT professionals are the answer. Likewise, the entertainment industry also employs IT-skilled professionals, including UX Designers and Data Analysts.
Many companies have a need for IT professionals. In Atlanta, major companies across a range of industries are hiring. In FinTech, Fiserv, Global Payments, and Equifax are some major IT employers. The CDC is headquartered here and hires a lot of IT professionals. Other major companies looking for IT talent include:
- Honeywell (the Atlanta software division)
- WarnerMedia
- Microsoft
- Google
- CNN
- AT&T
IT Career Outlook in Atlanta
As FinTech continues to grow deeper roots in Atlanta, you can be certain that there will continue to be a high demand for IT talent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atlanta’s tech workforce is expected to grow twice the national average growth rate. The integration of technology is just as undeniable here as it is an essential part of business success. The evolution of AI is another major contributor to the growth and pace of the tech industry and IT as a professional pursuit. New IT roles are being created, and more specialized skills are required. Being an IT professional in this thriving city is rewarding and full of unique opportunities. Atlanta is expected to play an increasingly critical role in tech for the southeastern U.S.