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CFO.

Atlanta.

$268,000

median salary, 3% above the national average

$201,000 to $355,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

If you are evaluating a CFO offer in Atlanta, GA, here is the reality: $201,000 to $355,000, with $268,000 as the midpoint. 3% above the national average. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$201,000

per year

Median

$268,000

per year

75th Percentile

$355,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$201,000$355,000

Orbyt estimate for CFO in Atlanta, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $275,820 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area, based on 2,350 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$97,090

25th percentile

$149,990

Median

$275,820

75th percentile

$418,050

90th percentile

$581,990

Workers surveyed

2,350

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CFO specifically. The Atlanta range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $241,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$174,000

to $214,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$228,000

to $281,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$295,000

to $348,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$335,000

to $415,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $70,000 to the total package.

Base

$268,000

Equity

$40,000

Bonus

$25,000

Signing

$5,000

Estimated total: $338,000

How Atlanta compares.

Atlanta, GA

$268,000

Cost of living: 2% above average

National Average

$260,000

Atlanta is $8,000 above

CFO salary by city.

CFO salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$358,000$269,000 to $475,0001.35x$265,000
San Jose, CA$344,000$258,000 to $457,0001.38x$249,000
Honolulu, HI$341,000$256,000 to $453,0001.30x$262,000
New York, NY$339,000$255,000 to $450,0001.28x$265,000
Washington DC, DC$338,000$254,000 to $449,0001.25x$270,000
Seattle, WA$326,000$244,000 to $432,0001.24x$263,000
Boston, MA$311,000$233,000 to $412,0001.22x$255,000
Los Angeles, CA$310,000$232,000 to $411,0001.18x$263,000
San Diego, CA$310,000$233,000 to $412,0001.17x$265,000
Atlanta, GA$268,000$201,000 to $355,0001.02x$263,000

See all 81 cities for CFO →

Salary by role in Atlanta.

Salary comparison by role in Atlanta
RoleMedianRange
CTO$312,000$243,000 to $406,000
CEO$283,000$206,000 to $391,000
General Counsel$277,000$216,000 to $360,000
CFO$268,000$201,000 to $355,000
IC6 Engineer$260,000$203,000 to $338,000
AI Trading Strategist$244,000$190,000 to $317,000
CTO, AI Startup$232,000$182,000 to $303,000
AI Protein Structure Specialist$227,000$177,000 to $295,000

What you should know.

The CFO landscape in Atlanta is not what most salary sites will tell you. Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. The city's tech scene has expanded rapidly with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and a thriving fintech community. Atlanta offers strong salaries relative to its moderate cost of living, making it one of the best value metros for professionals. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Fortune 500 CFOs earn three to five times more than mid-market counterparts. Industry also matters, with technology, financial services, and pharmaceutical CFOs commanding the highest packages. IPO and M&A transaction experience adds further premium.

VP of Finance roles pay $180,000 to $260,000 in base salary. CFOs at small companies ($10 million to $50 million revenue) earn $175,000 to $250,000. Mid-market CFOs ($50 million to $500 million) earn $250,000 to $400,000. Enterprise CFOs at $1 billion or more revenue companies command $400,000 to $800,000 base. In Atlanta, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. And on the tax side: georgia has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5.49%. Atlanta does not impose a separate city income tax, keeping the combined burden below most northeastern cities. When someone quotes you $268,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Mention Atlanta's role as a regional tech capital. Employers are investing heavily to retain talent against poaching from coastal firms offering remote positions. The range for CFOs in Atlanta runs from $201,000 to $355,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$201,000

Median

$268,000

75th

$355,000

Considering a related role?

  • An IC6 Engineer in Atlanta earns $260,000 (3% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Atlanta is CTO at $312,000

Common questions.

Company revenue is the strongest predictor of CFO pay. CFOs at companies with $50 million revenue earn approximately $200,000 to $300,000 total. At $500 million revenue, total compensation reaches $500,000 to $800,000. At $5 billion or more, CFO total packages commonly exceed $2 million to $5 million.

The highest-paid CFOs typically combine Big Four public accounting experience with investment banking or corporate development backgrounds. IPO experience, capital markets expertise, and board-level communication skills command the largest premiums. An MBA from a top program is nearly universal among Fortune 500 CFOs.

Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. The city's tech scene has expanded rapidly with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and a thriving fintech community. For CFOs specifically, the median salary of $268,000 reflects that demand.

Atlanta's cost of living multiplier is 1.02x the national average. The adjusted median CFO salary of $268,000 accounts for this. In practice, a CFO earning $268,000 in Atlanta has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $262,745 in an average cost market.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. In Atlanta's market, these extras can add $67,000 or more on top of the base salary.

Atlanta's cost of living is near the national average. Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. Calculate your actual take home pay after housing, taxes, and transportation before deciding. A $268,000 salary here buys a different lifestyle than the same number in another market.

CFO salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Atlanta.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to CFOs in Atlanta.

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"CFO Salary in Atlanta, GA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cfo/atlanta

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