[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you are a Georgia resident thinking about a nursing career, or an RN considering a move to Georgia, know that a registered nurse salary in Georgia comes with a low cost of living and top-rated nursing departments at area hospitals.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lifestyles encompass anything from bustling Atlanta to slower-paced cities and historic towns. With solid employment growth projections and opportunities for career advancement, Georgia ranks high as a state favorable to nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Our guide discusses an average [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-salary//”]RN salary[/hen-ui-link] in Georgia, the state’s highest-paying cities, and the cost-of-living adjustments that make RN salaries in Georgia go even further.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Average RN Salaries in Georgia[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RN salaries in Georgia rank 26th among U.S. states, with an average annual wage of $75,380 and $36.24 per hour. While RN salaries in Georgia fall below the The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)-stated national annual average of $82,750, the cost of living in Georgia also sits lower than the national average.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Like elsewhere in the country, Georgia RNs are in demand. [hen-ui-link href=”https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm?AreaName=&AreaNameSelect%5B%5D=1&Name=&NameSelect%5B%5D=537&items_per_page=100″ target=”_blank”]Projections Central[/hen-ui-link] lists a 22.5% employment growth rate for Georgia RNs for 2018-2028. In fact, [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/best-states-to-work-as-a-nurse//”]Georgia ranks number five[/hen-ui-link] among states with the largest projected employment growth for nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Georgia offers many advantages to RNs, including salaries adjusted for cost of living, workforce diversity, NCLEX-RN pass rates, and RN supply and demand.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Add to the list of advantages several top-rated hospitals and [hen-ui-link href=”/state/georgia//”]nursing schools[/hen-ui-link], and Georgia becomes even more attractive.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The table below outlines the range of RN salaries in Georgia from the lowest 10% to the highest 10% of earners, with the top salaries approaching six figures.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For general information about how to become a nurse, workplaces, and daily duties, explore our [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/”]overview to RN careers[/hen-ui-link] page.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table] Georgia RN Salary Range [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Percentile[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Annual RN Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Hourly RN Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]10%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$58,400[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$28.08[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]25%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$61,140[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$29.40[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]50% (Median)[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$75,040[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$36.08[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]75%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$81,210[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$39.04[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]90%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$98,410[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$47.31[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Source:[/hen-ui-text] BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Georgia RN Salary, Adjusted for Cost of Living[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]States’ cost-of-living calculations consider regional metrics like the price of clothing, groceries, healthcare, housing, and transportation.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Georgia’s cost-of-living index of 94.5% slides in 5.5% lower than the national average. Georgia’s adjusted salary for RNs totals $79,526, which ranks the peach state 19th among all states.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Payscale’s analysis of [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Georgia-Atlanta” target=”_blank”]cost-of-living data[/hen-ui-link] for Atlanta, Georgia’s largest metro area and highest-paying city for RNs, shows that residents pay 6% less for housing than the national average and 15% less for utilities. Groceries cost 5% more, but the overall cost-of-living is 1% lower than the national average.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.georgia.org/standard-of-living” target=”_blank”]Georgia Department of Economic Development[/hen-ui-link], below-average housing costs and low tax rates contribute to a high standard of living.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While neighboring Florida may be better known for attracting retirees, Georgia is developing a reputation for a good place to retire. An influx of older Americans can translate to an increased need for nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Georgia[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The table below shows the top-paying metropolitan areas for Georgia RNs. Atlanta tops the list at $80,760.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With six million people, Atlanta offers all the amenities of a big city, plus nearby recreational opportunities in the Appalachian Mountains. Atlanta has universities with top nursing programs, and several magnet-designated hospitals.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In addition to Atlanta’s Emory University hospitals, Georgia is home to Northeast Georgia Health System, Southeast Georgia Health System, and Wellstar Health System.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Smaller cities like Gainesville (near Atlanta) and Dalton (in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains) feature salaries in the lower $70,000s. Athens and Augusta salaries clock in around the same.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table] Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Georgia [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]City[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average RN Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Atlanta — Sandy Springs — Roswell, GA[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$80,760[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Gainesville, GA[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$73,820[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Dalton, GA[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$73,790[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Athens — Clarke County, GA[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$73,370[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Augusta — Richmond County, GA — SC[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$72,420[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Source:[/hen-ui-text] BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Average Salaries for Other Nursing Roles in Georgia[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Other types of nursing roles in Georgia start with nursing assistants and licensed practical/vocational nurses with average salaries in the $30,000-$40,000s.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists earn six-figure salaries.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The projected employment growth for nurse practitioners in Georgia is 41.4% for 2018-2028, indicating strong job opportunities for nurses who earn their graduate nursing degrees.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Several [hen-ui-link href=”/state/georgia//”]Georgia nursing schools[/hen-ui-link] offer online master of science in nursing degrees including Atlanta’s Emory University, Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia State University in Atlanta, and Mercer University in Macon. Licensed RNs can usually complete a master’s program in 30-36 months.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”36852,33995,36820″][/hen-ui-article-row]