Software Engineer pay in Atlanta, by the numbers
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with GA, and with other jobs in Atlanta.
How Atlanta compares with United States and GA
San Jose leads at US$213,110, 60% above Atlanta, while San Antonio sits at US$128,430. The neighbours in the ranking are Philadelphia and Raleigh.
No other GA metro has observed software engineer percentiles here, so Atlanta is judged against the 21-metro national list instead.
Take-home, rent and buying power for Atlanta software engineers
Price levels in Atlanta (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$133,000.
Adjusting for prices does not move Atlanta in the ranking: it is 15th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
After a simplified 16% effective national income tax, the median nets about US$9,400 a month. A modeled 1-bedroom (US$1,650) takes 18% of that, leaving around US$5,860 after modeled living costs.
Atlanta vs similar-cost metros
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$166,830, 25% more than Atlanta; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,150 higher.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$160,920, 21% more than Atlanta; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,770 higher.
Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$134,380, 1% more than Atlanta; modeled monthly leftover is US$90 higher.
Where Software Engineer ranks among Atlanta jobs
Software Engineer ranks 2nd of 9 occupations with observed Atlanta data. Lawyer leads the city at US$138,210.
Closest neighbours in the Atlanta list: Data Scientist at US$108,940 (-18%).
Where Atlanta stands for junior and senior software engineers
Entry-level software engineers fare better here (14th of 21 at the 10th percentile, US$83,400) than senior ones (19th at the 90th, US$178,330).
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$289,150 at the 90th percentile, +62% against Atlanta.
How wide software engineer pay runs in Atlanta
Pay is spread out: US$83,400 at the 10th percentile to US$178,330 at the 90th (2.1×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.