2026 Atlanta Tech Salary Guide

Discover how much Atlanta tech professionals should earn with Motion Recruitment’s 2026 Tech Salary Guide. Get salary insights for 100+ tech roles, along with expert analysis on the evolving Atlanta IT landscape and industry trends.

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Atlanta IT Salaries and Tech Market Insights for 2026

In a competitive IT hiring landscape, Motion’s 2026 Atlanta Tech Salary Guide gives you the info needed to take the next step in your tech job search or hiring plans.

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Map Out Your 2026 Strategy for the Atlanta Tech Hiring Market

with Expert Insights & Salary Data

The Atlanta tech industry continues to grow, and Motion Recruitment’s Tech Salary Guide is here to help workers and company leaders better understand the IT job market in 2026.
 
Creating over $58.6 billion of economic impact for the city, the Atlanta IT industry is a major driver of jobs and innovation in the community. Inside tech, artificial intelligence has shifted the skills companies are looking for, businesses are bringing their workers back to the office and boomerang hiring has exploded in the past year.
 
Motion’s 2026 Atlanta Guide explores these topics and other trends shaping the ATL’s IT job market, providing salary information for the top tech roles.

137,000

Atlanta tech workers

There are an estimated 137,000 core tech workers currently employed in the Atlanta metro area.

$131K

average salary for Atlanta IT workers

The average base level compensation for an Atlanta IT worker is $131,007.

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Emerging Tech in Atlanta: Agentic AI and the Lack of Upskilling

In Atlanta, tech professionals who actively develop their agentic AI skills are positioned to thrive in a rapidly evolving market. While many across the U.S. are concerned about job security due to AI advancements, more than half are not taking steps to upskill, setting proactive individuals in Atlanta apart. 
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Q: What Advice Would You Give Tech Job Seekers and Hiring Managers in 2026?

From Brendan McLean, Managing Director of the Atlanta Office, Motion Recruitment

“Atlanta job seekers should emphasize AI and cybersecurity skills, as demand grows alongside the city’s fintech and logistics sectors. Company leaders should be looking to offer upskilling opportunities and streamline their hiring practices. In-person networking and credibility are critical in a region balancing rapid growth with cautious hiring.”

What will I find in Motion's IT Salary Guide?

What tech job data and trends are covered in the Guide?
  • The state of tech employment in 2026, with the impact of layoffs, economic conditions, IT job creation and the tech talent shortage.

  • The continuing impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, including a spike in data center construction, the need for upskilling in the tech industry and how AI is evolving the wearables market.

  • Tech hiring and workplace trends, including tech workers heading back to the office and IT workers boomeranging back to previous employers.

  • Advice from market experts on what you can do to succeed in 2026.
What valuable insights into IT salary data can I discover?
  • You will find starting salaries for mid and senior level ranges for over 100 specific job titles across technology areas. There are also city-specific variances included, which you can use to measure the regional salary ranges per tech job.
 
  • You will see IT salaries for top roles from the most in-demand technology areas: Software, Data & AI, Security, Infrastructure & DevOps, Mobile, Functional, Product & UX and Executive.

 

Previous Salary Guides

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2025

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2025

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2024

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Motion Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an IT job pay in Georgia?

IT jobs in Georgia, specifically in the Atlanta region, offer a wide range of salaries depending on the role and level of experience. For example, Information Security Engineers at mid-level positions earn between $104,050 and $135,905, while senior level professionals can expect salaries from $126,657 to $148,865. Support Engineers see mid-level salaries from $63,598 to $81,289, with senior roles ranging from $79,021 to $103,027.

Systems Administrators in Atlanta earn between $77,354 and $95,595 at mid-level, escalating to $103,635 through $111,660 for senior positions. Systems Analysts earn between $73,227 and $95,909 mid-career and $92,993 to $107,509 at senior levels. Data Engineers exhibit a higher range, from $107,904 to $135,604 mid-level, increasing to $133,542 through $162,419 for senior roles.

These figures reflect the expanding viability of IT roles across Georgia, with the IT analyst salary in Atlanta and related IT positions highlighting competitive pay aligned with evolving technology demands and organizational scalability. This data also underscores the significant impact that skills, certification, and specialization have on compensation across the state.

Have IT salaries increased in Atlanta in 2026?
IT salaries in Atlanta for 2026 demonstrate a clear upward trajectory, reflecting the evolving landscape and expanding viability of technology roles in the region. Data across various IT disciplines indicate salary ranges that remain competitive and illustrate growth compared to previous benchmarks.

For example, mid-level Systems Engineers in Atlanta earn between $92,000 and $112,272, while senior level professionals in the same role can earn from $104,457 up to $127,575. Similarly, senior level Data Engineers have salary ranges from approximately $133,542 to $162,419, highlighting the significant impact that specialized skills in data and AI have on compensation trends.

Other roles such as senior Application Security Engineers and Platform Engineers also showcase substantial earnings, with salaries reaching as high as $158,469 and $175,062 respectively. These figures underscore a consistent pattern of wage increases driven by demand for expertise in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and scalable platform development.
Does the IT field pay well?
The IT field generally offers competitive compensation across various analyst roles, demonstrating a strong return on skills and experience. In Atlanta, for instance, mid-level Systems Analysts earn between $73,227 and $95,909, while senior level professionals earn from $92,993 up to $107,509. Business Analysts reflect a similar range, with mid-level salaries from $81,380 to $99,616 and senior levels from $81,235 to $103,335.

Data Analysts command somewhat higher pay, ranging from $86,836 to $106,671 mid-career and $108,113 to $135,330 at senior levels. Even Technical Support Analysts, though on the lower end, earn between $61,783 and $73,706 mid-level, rising to $74,087 through $84,156 at senior levels. Quality Assurance Analysts fall within the $77,445 to $93,792 range for mid-level and $97,801 to $109,677 for senior roles.

These figures for the IT analyst salary in Atlanta highlight the expanding viability of many IT roles. The sector maintains a balance between competitive pay and the evolving landscape of skills demand, making IT careers a significant contributor to workforce growth and technological innovation.
What is the most paid job in IT field?
The highest paying job in the IT field in Atlanta is that of an AI Engineer. According to 2026 salary data, mid-level AI Engineers in Atlanta earn between $136,017 and $174,993 annually, while senior level AI Engineers can make from $141,405 up to $184,264.

This IT salary Atlanta data illustrates the significant impact of AI expertise as organizations invest heavily in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to drive digital transformation and competitive advantage. Roles like AI Engineer represent the expanding viability of specialized skillsets that command top-tier compensation due to their critical role in designing scalable, intelligent systems within the evolving landscape of technology.
What is a good IT Salary in Atlanta?
The IT salary Atlanta market shows a broad range depending on the role and experience level.

For example, mid-level Support Engineers in Atlanta can expect salaries between $63,598 and $81,289, while mid-level Systems Analysts earn between $73,227 and $95,909. Roles requiring more specialized skills command higher salaries; Information Security Engineers range from $104,050 to $135,905 at mid-level, and Network Security Engineers earn from $98,560 to $114,011. senior level roles naturally offer greater compensation — Senior Systems Analysts can make between $92,993 and $107,509, whereas Senior Information Security Engineers earn from $126,657 up to $148,865.

Additionally, technical specialties such as Data Engineering and Network Architecture show strong earning potential in Atlanta. Senior Data Engineers earn between $133,542 and $162,419, reflecting the expanding viability of data-driven digital transformation initiatives. Senior Network Architects similarly command salaries from $132,779 to $158,427, emphasizing the critical impact of scalable network infrastructure.

While the salary spectrum in Atlanta covers junior to senior levels, the data demonstrates that IT professionals with in-demand skills in cybersecurity, data engineering, and systems architecture find a competitive compensation landscape. 
How much does a System Administrator make in Atlanta GA?

Systems Administrators in Atlanta have a salary range at the mid-level between approximately $77,354 and $95,595. For senior-level Systems Administrators, the salary increases to a range of about $103,635 to $111,660, according to 2026 market data.

 

These compensation figures reflect the importance of IT administration roles in maintaining robust and secure IT infrastructure while minimizing critical errors. The IT administrator salary in Atlanta remains competitive within the broader tech industry, supporting ongoing digital transformation efforts and technological scalability.

At this moment in the tech industry, these salary figures for Systems Administrators underscore the expanding viability and demand for professionals capable of ensuring seamless IT operations and reliability in a dynamic environment.

How much does an IT analyst earn?

IT analysts in Atlanta earn competitive salaries that reflect their important role in analyzing systems and processes to improve technology operations. At the mid-level, Systems Analysts make between approximately $73,227 and $95,909 annually. Senior level Systems Analysts see salaries range from about $92,993 to $107,509.

Broader IT analyst roles, such as Business Analysts, report mid-level pay ranging from $81,380 to $99,616 and senior levels between $81,235 and $103,335. Other analyst positions, including Data Analysts and Information Security Analysts, command even higher salaries, highlighting the expanding viability of analytical roles in the evolving technology landscape.

The data for IT analyst salaries in Atlanta emphasizes the strategic importance of these positions in driving digital transformation and informed decision-making while maintaining competitive compensation aligned with skills and experience.

How much do senior IT managers make in Atlanta?
Senior IT managers in Atlanta, specifically senior-level Engineering Managers, earn between $139,936 and $172,645 annually based on 2026 salary data. This range reflects the significant impact and responsibility such roles have within technology organizations, overseeing teams and driving complex projects that support digital transformation and scalability.

Additionally, related senior IT managerial roles, such as Infrastructure and Security Architects, earn between $142,708 and $161,684, while Software Architects command $149,456 to $180,255, indicating a highly competitive salary market for senior management positions. These figures for the IT manager salary in Atlanta reflect the evolving landscape where leadership in IT aligns with strategic business outcomes and technical innovation.
What certifications increase IT PM salary?
Certifications play a significant role in enhancing the IT project manager salary in Atlanta and overall compensation within IT project management roles. The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification stands out as the most impactful, often correlating with salary increases due to its recognition of rigorous project planning, execution, and leadership skills. Additionally, Agile certifications like Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) are increasingly valued, reflecting the industry's shift toward agile methodologies and iterative development.

Other certifications, such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), can also elevate salaries when project managers are involved in cybersecurity or IT service management projects. These credentials boost an individual’s versatility and ability to drive a seamless experience across complex, cross-functional teams.

In the context of the evolving landscape of IT project management in Atlanta, certifications directly impact salary ranges by signaling proficiency in critical skills that reduce risks and improve ROI, further reinforcing the correlation between professional development and the IT project manager salary in Atlanta.