Software engineers have plenty of choices when finding a city to work and live in. No matter your experience level, you’ll find that your skills are in demand nationwide. This leaves choosing a place to work up to you, but how can you decide?
Understanding salary, advancement potential, cost of living, and the work culture can help you find the right fit.
This article will guide you through these important criteria when considering Atlanta, Georgia, as your place of work. You’ll see how it stacks up against some of the other best cities for software engineers in the US. So keep reading to find out what you need to know about Atlanta software engineer salaries.
Software Engineer Salaries in Georgia
Finding a salary that will suit your lifestyle is one of the first things software engineers consider when comparing potential options. Data from Level.fyi shows what you can expect from software engineer salaries in Georgia.
In Georgia, entry-level software engineers enjoy a median salary of $90,625. At the 25th percentile, a software engineer's salary in Georgia is $81,000. Entry-level software engineers in the 75th percentile can expect a salary of around $106,590.
Senior software engineer salaries for the state of Georgia have a median of $159,500. The 25th and 75th percentile salaries are $131,000 and $198,000, respectively.
The data on software engineer salaries in Atlanta show comparable values for entry-level engineers to the rest of the state at:
- Median: $90,625
- 25th percentile: $81,000
- 75th percentile: $106,590
Senior software engineer salaries in Atlanta run higher than the rest of the state at:
- Median: $160,000
- 25th percentile: $131,250
- 75th percentile: $200,000
These salary numbers can help you determine if Atlanta is a contender city for you to work in. However, remember that individual positions can vary widely and that there are many other criteria to consider.
Cost of Living in Atlanta
Of course, your salary in your new position should be carefully weighed against the cost of living. The cost of essentials like food, utilities, and rent can vary widely from city to city, along with other expenses to support your lifestyle and hobbies. This is particularly true in most cities that offer exciting tech jobs, as tech companies are naturally drawn to trendier, high-cost-of-living areas.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for each city offers insight into the cost of living. These scores are derived from the average cost of rent, food, healthcare, transportation, and other metrics. Comparing the values of two cities can help you determine which will cause more strain on your budget.
The latest CPI index for Atlanta is 300. This value just so happens to match the US city average of 300. This means that Atlanta is right around the middle of the pack for the cost of living in US cities overall.
You can also see how Atlanta’s cost of living stacks up against other cities that are currently hiring software engineers, with the latest data showing:
- San Francisco: 337
- Miami: 322
- New York: 318
- Los Angeles: 317
Atlanta is about average compared to all cities but presents a lower cost of living when stacked against some of the most popular US cities for software engineers.
Major Companies Hiring Software Engineers in Atlanta
Atlanta provides a wide range of opportunities for software engineers at any skill level. You’ll have your choice between exciting new tech ventures and established players in fields like finance and entertainment.
Reddit is among the most frequented websites on the internet, providing online communities and discussions for people around the globe. They continue to work toward new solutions to better their product and tackle unique challenges, and they’re hiring aggressively to do so.
Samsara
Samsara’s Atlanta offices are hiring software engineers with varying experience levels to support their connected operations platform for vehicle fleets. Samsara needs engineers for their ambitious project to expand electric vehicle charging networks nationwide.
Warner Bros. Discovery
The multimedia giant Warner Bros. Discovery provides an extensive range of traditional and streaming content, and they need software engineers to support their new streaming services. As one of the most prominent players in the market, they’re looking for the best of the best.
ServiceNow
ServiceNow is a rapidly growing cloud services company that provides an extensive range of IT service management and operations platforms, services, and support. They need software engineers at every level to continue their expansion and develop industry-leading solutions.
Capital One
As one of the largest financial service providers in the US, Capital One is always hiring software engineers. Their teams are currently working on various innovative advancements in fintech applications, such as online shopping, fraud protection, and digital identity.
Quality of Life in Atlanta
Atlanta is generally considered an exciting place to live and is well-known for its vibrant startup scene. Many of its neighborhoods are currently going through a period of revitalization. You’ll find housing availability across a wide range of different neighborhoods to suit your individual preferences.
There are plenty of attractions throughout Atlanta. You can visit the largest aquarium in the US at the Georgia Aquarium, take in an Atlanta Falcons home game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or check out World of Coca-Cola, a 20-acre complex showcasing the city’s world-leading beverage company.
Atlanta is also home to many parks, letting you enjoy the outdoors just a short distance from anywhere in the city. And there are many award-winning restaurants and other establishments throughout the city.
Up Your Software Engineering Game With Stashpad
Atlanta provides a unique combination of a low cost of living with many professional opportunities for software engineers. The city is also home to a wide range of attractions to suit any lifestyle.
And no matter what direction your software engineering career takes you, you can use Stashpad to help organize it more intuitively.
Photo by Brad Huchteman on Unsplash
