Choosing the right city to launch—or grow—your career is about more than just job titles. Whether you’re drawn to the energy of Atlanta’s corporate hubs or the coastal charm of Savannah’s growing industries, both cities offer unique career opportunities, lifestyle perks, and economic advantages. At Impact Staffing, we help candidates make informed decisions based on real employment data, wages, and cost of living.
Here’s how Atlanta and Savannah stack up when it comes to jobs, salaries, and everyday living—so you can decide which Georgia city is the best fit for your future.
Georgia Employment and Wages 2023 provided employment data for Fulton County, where Atlanta is located, and Chatham County, where Savannah is located:
- Employment levels: Fulton County ranked number 1 with 937,196 jobs; Chatham County ranked number 5 with 168,944 jobs
- Average weekly wages: Fulton County ranked number 1 at $1,847; Chatham County ranked number 11 at $1,138
Fulton County employment data 2023
Employment data for Fulton County included the following industries:
- Finance and Insurance: 62,972 jobs; $3,096 average weekly wage
- Food manufacturing: 4,164 jobs; $1,437 average weekly wage
- Transportation and Warehousing: 55,506 jobs; $1,010 average weekly wage
Chatham County employment data 2023
Employment data for Chatham County included the following industries:
- Finance and Insurance: 2,673 jobs; $2,167 average weekly wage
- Food manufacturing: 1,218 jobs; $1,278 average weekly wage
- Transportation and Warehousing: 16,245 jobs; $1,102 average weekly wage
Atlanta’s Economy
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provided seasonally adjusted data for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell economy in February 2025:
- 3,109,700 workers were employed
- 4% was the unemployment rate
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) not seasonally adjusted data from January 2025 showed:
- 178,900 manufacturing jobs
- 564,100 professional and business services jobs
- 209,500 financial activities jobs
Savannah’s Economy
The U.S. BLS provided not seasonally adjusted data for Savannah’s economy in January 2025:
- 202,600 workers were employed
- 6,200 were unemployed
- 3% was the unemployment rate
Not seasonally adjusted data from February 2025 showed:
- 22,700 manufacturing jobs
- 22,700 professional and business services jobs
- 7,600 financial activities jobs
Atlanta’s Cost of Living
PayScale compared the cost of living in Atlanta to the national average:
- Cost of living: 3% lower
- Housing: 7% lower
- Utilities: 10% lower
- Transportation: 1% lower
- Healthcare: 7% higher
- Groceries: 1% higher
Savannah’s Cost of Living
PayScale compared the cost of living in Savannah to the national average:
- Cost of living: 7% lower
- Housing: 22% lower
- Utilities: 6% lower
- Transportation: 0% lower
- Healthcare: 10% higher
- Groceries: 2% higher
Looking for a Job in Atlanta or Savannah?
Let Impact Staffing get to work matching you with job opportunities in Georgia. Visit our job board to apply for a role today.
