Financial Services · Atlanta, GA
Among the 29 metros we cover, only Hartford has a denser pool of insurance underwriters than metro Atlanta, and Atlanta underwriters earn about 17% more than the U.S. median. Careerscape is a national agency, and its finance recruiters, who focus on this one industry, run Atlanta searches remotely.
BLS May 2025
A location quotient (LQ) shows how concentrated a job is in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro compared with the U.S., where 1.0 is the national share. These estimates cover all industries, not only finance companies.
| Occupation | Jobs in metro | Median pay · vs. U.S. | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 7,740 | $100,830−2% | 1.15 |
| Accountants and Auditors | 30,150 | $85,820+3% | 1.12 |
| Financial Managers | 15,660 | $171,240+3% | 1.00 |
| Loan Officers | 5,550 | $76,340±0% | 1.09 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 9,530 | $63,610−19% | 1.05 |
| Credit Analysts | 1,300 | $80,750−3% | 1.08 |
| Insurance Underwriters | 5,090 | $95,430+17% | 2.60 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | 13,830 | $75,770−3% | 2.29 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 4,690 | $103,990−1% | 0.95 |
| Compliance Officers | 9,170 | $72,810−10% | 1.18 |
| Actuaries | 1,200 | Not published | 2.41 |
Insurance underwriters (LQ 2.6), actuaries (2.41) and claims adjusters, examiners and investigators (2.29) are all more than twice as concentrated here as nationally. Of the 29 metros on our financial services pages, only Hartford has a higher underwriter concentration. Underwriters also out-earn the U.S. ($95,430 vs $81,370). The soft spots are sales and compliance pay: securities and financial services sales agents earn a $63,610 median (U.S. $78,660) and compliance officers $72,810 (U.S. $80,730). BLS did not publish an Atlanta median for actuaries. Jobs and median annual pay for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area, all employers, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025). “Vs. U.S.” compares with the national median. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: above 1.0 means the job makes up a bigger share of local employment than it does nationally.
Market context
Named as market context only. These are among the larger finance employers headquartered or operating at scale in the metro. They compete with each other, and with you, for the same candidates.
The Atlanta-based operator of stock and futures exchanges and clearing houses. It also runs a mortgage technology business, built partly on the Ellie Mae (2020) and Black Knight (2023) acquisitions, so it hires mortgage-software and data talent as well.
An Atlanta-headquartered insurer whose two main segments are Global Housing (lender-placed insurance, multifamily housing and mortgage services) and Global Lifestyle (device protection, extended service contracts and vehicle protection).
Headquartered in Duluth, in Gwinnett County. It sells insurance, investment funds and debt-management plans to middle-income households in the U.S. and Canada, a model built on licensed sales representatives and the staff who supervise them.
Since its merger with Synovus closed on January 1, 2026, the combined bank holding company has been based in Atlanta, while the bank itself is headquartered in Nashville. It reported more than 400 locations in nine states at closing.
The City of Alpharetta's largest-employer list, based on May 2026 business license data, includes Fiserv (2,087 employees), Equifax (1,722), Morgan Stanley (1,225) and Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (560).
Pay check
Atlanta is not a discount market for every finance role. Underwriters are the clearest case: the metro median of $95,430 is about 17% above the U.S. median, even though the local pool is more than twice the national concentration. Accountants and auditors ($85,820) and financial managers ($171,240) also sit a little above their national medians.
The gaps run the other way in sales and compliance. Securities and financial services sales agents earn about 19% less than the U.S. median, and compliance officers earn $72,810. Credit analysts ($80,750) and financial and investment analysts ($100,830) are close to national pay. If a financial analyst or compliance officer is relocating from a higher-paid metro, check the national ranges in our Salary Guide before you set the offer.
Credentials
Several finance roles cannot start until a credential is in hand. These are the ones most likely to add weeks to a start date, so confirm current rules with the issuing body before you make an offer depend on one.
| Credential | Issued or run by | What matters for hiring |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia CPA license | Georgia State Board of Accountancy | HB 148 (2025) added two pathways from January 1, 2026: a master's in accounting or taxation plus one year of experience, or a bachelor's in accounting plus two years. The 150-hour route with one year remains. |
| Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) | FINRA | Open to anyone 18 or older without a sponsoring firm. A pass stays valid for four years, so candidates who already hold one are quicker to register. |
| Series 65 | NASAA exam administered by FINRA | The exam tied to investment adviser representatives, common for wealth and advisory roles. |
| Mortgage loan originator license | State regulators, through NMLS | Requires pre-licensing education from an NMLS-approved provider and the SAFE MLO Test. Education requirements vary by state. |
General information, not legal advice. Source: Georgia Society of CPAs, HB 148 signed into law.
Roles we recruit
Our financial services recruiting for Atlanta employers covers these roles, through direct hire, contract staffing and executive search. Our national financial and banking staffing page lists the full service.
Before you post
Practical points drawn from the data on this page. They apply whether you hire direct or on contract.
The local underwriter median is above the national figure. An offer pegged to a national survey average will land below what Atlanta candidates already earn.
The metro has 1,200 actuarial jobs, more than twice the national concentration, but BLS did not publish a local median. Ask candidates where they stand in their exams and set pay on that, not on title alone.
There are 13,830 claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in the metro. People handling claims for third-party administrators, warranty and service-contract businesses use similar skills.
Since January 1, 2026, a Georgia candidate with a bachelor's in accounting and two years of experience can qualify for licensure without 150 hours. Do not screen out a strong staff accountant for lacking a fifth year.
Merger integration, regulatory remediation and claims surges end. Temporary or contract-to-hire staff cover them without adding permanent headcount.
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FAQ
Start with pay. BLS puts the Atlanta metro underwriter median at $95,430, above the $81,370 U.S. median, and the pool is more than twice the national concentration, so most strong candidates are employed elsewhere in the market. A recruiter can approach them confidentially. Be specific about lines of business and authority levels, since commercial and personal lines experience do not always transfer.
It depends on the role. In BLS May 2025 data, Atlanta underwriters, accountants and financial managers earn slightly to clearly more than the U.S. median, and analysts earn about the same. Securities and financial services sales agents ($63,610 vs $78,660) and compliance officers ($72,810 vs $80,730) earn less. Check each role rather than applying one local discount.
Yes, since January 1, 2026. Georgia's HB 148, the Public Accountancy Act of 2025, added a route for candidates with a bachelor's degree in accounting and two years of experience, and another for a master's in accounting or taxation plus one year. The original 150-hour route with one year of experience still applies. The Georgia State Board of Accountancy sets the details by rule.
Not at Careerscape. Employers pay for recruiting services, and job seekers pay nothing. Your search stays confidential if you are currently employed. Browse open jobs or start at our job seeker page to share your resume with our financial services recruiters.
Only in part. This page focuses on insurance, investment, banking and corporate finance roles. Our Atlanta staffing page covers the payments processors, logistics and film employers that drive the wider metro, and our Atlanta technology recruiting page covers engineering and IT roles.
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