Wages by Occupation in Dalton, GA

Pay and jobs by occupation in the Dalton, GA metropolitan area (BLS, May 2025). BLS counts about 65,300 jobs across all occupations here, with a median annual wage of $42,210 for all occupations combined. 225 occupations have a published median wage in this area.

Education and earnings of residents

Who lives in the Dalton, GA area and what they earn, by education, from federal survey data (not a measure of any one employer or college).

18.7% of adults 25 and over in this area have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±1.3), compared with 35.7% nationally.

Prices of goods and services here run at 89.8 when the whole U.S. is 100 (housing 63.3; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024; estimates are revised). A higher number means prices are higher on average, not that the area is better or worse.

About 7,264 residents (5.2% of those 3 and older; U.S. 6.6%) are enrolled in college or graduate school, at any school (±743; ACS 2020-2024, Table B14001).

The unemployment rate in this area averaged 3.9% in 2025, with a labor force of about 65,804 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted annual average; estimates are model-based and revised).

20.6% of adults 25 to 34 have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±2.7), compared with 39.6% nationally (Table B15001).

Median yearly earnings by education, adults 25 and over who have earnings

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	$35,383	$32,485
High school graduate	$37,710	$40,153
Some college or associate's degree	$45,237	$47,260
Bachelor's degree	$54,145	$70,044
Graduate or professional degree	$66,799	$90,720

Poverty rate by education, adults 25 and over

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	19.1% (±2.5)	24.2%
High school graduate	13.8% (±1.5)	14.4%
Some college or associate's degree	9.9% (±1.9)	9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	4.7% (±1.4)	4.5%

Unemployment rate by education, ages 25 to 64

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	2.3% (±1.2)	7.7%
High school graduate	4.3% (±1.3)	5.9%
Some college or associate's degree	8.7% (±2.8)	4.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher	3.0% (±1.5)	2.8%

What residents with a bachelor’s degree studied

Field of first major	This area	United States
Science and engineering	25.1%	36.1%
Science and engineering related fields	10.4%	10.0%
Business	25.7%	20.1%
Education	18.9%	10.9%
Arts, humanities and other	19.9%	23.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Tables B15003, B20004 (earnings shown only when the margin of error is at most 20% of the value), B23006 (unemployment shown only when every margin is at most 3 points), B17003 (margins of error at the 90% level; poverty shown only when every margin is at most 8 points) and C15010 (the Census Bureau’s own field groups, in a fixed order, not ranked). Describes residents of the area, not a prediction for any person; the Census Bureau has not endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice.

Wages by occupation

Occupation	Jobs	Median annual wage	Mean annual wage	Jobs per 1,000 jobs here	Concentration vs. U.S.
Accountants and Auditors	450	$77,410	$82,380	6.94	0.74
Administrative Services Managers	110	$107,200	$119,880	1.76	1.04
Amusement and Recreation Attendants	50	$24,960	$25,000	0.73	0.28
Animal Caretakers	70	$26,330	$27,950	1.08	0.63
Architectural and Civil Drafters	40	$79,410	$80,780	0.64	0.96
Architectural and Engineering Managers	40	$163,550	$162,730	0.65	0.46
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	30	$30,710	$30,890	0.54	0.82
Automotive Body and Related Repairers	50	$47,890	$50,810	0.69	0.72
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	250	$47,770	$51,060	3.90	0.86
Bakers	50	$30,170	$31,330	0.81	0.53
Bartenders	90	$20,260	$33,070	1.43	0.29
Bill and Account Collectors	30	$41,030	$44,820	0.50	0.49
Billing and Posting Clerks	180	$41,410	$42,700	2.80	1.08
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks	530	$45,600	$46,570	8.11	0.92
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	280	$58,820	$59,820	4.24	2.27
Business Operations Specialists, All Other	440	$71,230	$79,160	6.69	0.96
Butchers and Meat Cutters	60	$30,140	$29,110	0.89	1.02
Buyers and Purchasing Agents	150	$64,050	$69,850	2.31	0.73
Carpenters	40	$42,750	$39,450	0.58	0.14
Cashiers	1,350	$27,260	$26,490	20.61	1.04
Chefs and Head Cooks	40	$66,090	$55,900	0.57	0.44
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	180	$46,570	$49,560	2.71	3.02
Chief Executives	40	$242,760	$316,730	0.64	0.49
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	100	$50,760	$49,910	1.47	0.58
Childcare Workers	210	$22,260	$26,630	3.18	0.95
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians	50	$51,960	$53,520	0.77	1.74
Civil Engineers	200	$99,760	$103,690	3.00	1.27
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	50	$62,030	$69,520	0.77	0.37
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	80	$29,760	$31,650	1.25	0.51
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	100	$63,040	$59,530	1.50	0.70
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	210	$44,740	$43,840	3.24	3.17
Commercial and Industrial Designers	60	$74,660	$93,180	0.89	4.15
Compliance Officers	90	$62,300	$64,950	1.35	0.50
Computer and Information Systems Managers	90	$161,140	$164,570	1.34	0.31
Computer Network Support Specialists	50	$60,640	$66,500	0.79	0.84
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators	50	$39,030	$45,090	0.83	0.76
Computer Occupations, All Other	120	$82,300	$89,160	1.79	0.64
Computer Systems Analysts	80	$94,640	$98,260	1.28	0.38
Computer User Support Specialists	220	$58,630	$59,290	3.43	0.74
Construction and Building Inspectors	80	$71,230	$69,680	1.22	1.29
Construction Laborers	240	$35,320	$36,040	3.68	0.52
Construction Managers	90	$97,210	$102,620	1.30	0.53
Cooks, Restaurant	410	$31,060	$30,930	6.29	0.69
Correctional Officers and Jailers	110	$47,440	$47,240	1.66	0.68
Cost Estimators	70	$74,840	$75,720	1.10	0.76
Counter and Rental Clerks	100	$41,750	$43,700	1.61	0.62
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks	40	$35,400	$43,320	0.61	0.53
Customer Service Representatives	1,080	$39,730	$41,450	16.61	1.00
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand	80	$22,930	$27,050	1.24	31.83
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	100	$33,210	$34,850	1.60	5.54
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	110	$40,730	$41,670	1.71	1.55
Data Entry Keyers	40	$39,110	$39,880	0.60	0.73
Data Scientists	50	$101,020	$107,690	0.76	0.45
Dental Assistants	180	$37,530	$42,880	2.82	1.13
Dental Hygienists	100	$82,010	$78,750	1.54	1.08
Dentists, General	40	$202,690	$224,180	0.64	0.80
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	40	$75,600	$71,300	0.62	1.06
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	110	$22,590	$24,850	1.73	0.50
Dishwashers	90	$27,610	$27,490	1.32	0.43
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	120	$49,520	$52,930	1.78	1.36
Driver/Sales Workers	180	$39,070	$37,670	2.71	1.03
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	120	$99,490	$102,370	1.86	0.88
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	80	$71,840	$69,010	1.23	0.54
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians	60	$78,230	$76,720	0.92	1.50
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	150	$67,610	$67,710	2.23	5.32
Electrical Engineers	140	$96,730	$97,140	2.17	1.70
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	100	$72,150	$74,290	1.55	1.84
Electricians	180	$56,860	$60,820	2.83	0.58
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	1,120	$63,340	$66,780	17.18	1.92
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	40	$38,900	$40,910	0.56	0.56
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	40	$88,370	$88,890	0.56	0.98
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	120	$65,290	$68,320	1.79	0.61
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	120	$47,940	$48,060	1.91	4.88
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers	860	$45,610	$44,030	13.13	158.87
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	30	$33,130	$38,110	0.52	1.37
Family Medicine Physicians	90	$326,210	$325,670	1.39	2.01
Fast Food and Counter Workers	1,530	$23,400	$25,240	23.38	0.94
Financial and Investment Analysts	70	$80,750	$91,260	1.07	0.46
Financial Managers	200	$133,000	$146,870	3.02	0.56
Firefighters	180	$48,110	$44,590	2.81	1.26
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	190	$69,300	$72,020	2.94	0.56
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	100	$74,320	$68,970	1.48	2.32
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	490	$35,850	$39,190	7.45	0.95
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers	50	$47,510	$47,750	0.78	0.68
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers	30	$46,720	$49,550	0.50	0.59
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	350	$70,830	$76,350	5.43	1.37
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers	90	$78,720	$85,600	1.34	0.98
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	540	$61,780	$65,560	8.26	0.89
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	60	$80,760	$78,600	0.86	0.87
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	1,120	$59,370	$63,220	17.19	3.97
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	430	$37,230	$46,110	6.54	0.91
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	360	$59,230	$60,590	5.57	1.39
Food Preparation Workers	200	$30,100	$29,930	3.02	0.53
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	40	$27,570	$25,020	0.67	0.35
Food Service Managers	80	$61,180	$64,120	1.16	0.76
General and Operations Managers	1,170	$94,050	$114,620	17.86	0.79
Graphic Designers	120	$53,630	$61,200	1.87	1.47
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	40	$43,780	$45,940	0.63	0.54
Healthcare Social Workers	70	$57,200	$58,980	1.13	0.93
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	150	$65,560	$57,670	2.35	0.89
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	1,540	$53,760	$54,810	23.57	1.78
Helpers--Electricians	40	$38,440	$39,890	0.56	1.36
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers	40	$37,050	$35,690	0.56	0.92
Helpers--Production Workers	210	$33,850	$33,530	3.23	3.03
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	230	$29,130	$29,190	3.59	0.13
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	110	$24,520	$23,940	1.70	0.61
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping	30	$42,000	$40,270	0.47	0.80
Human Resources Managers	70	$130,700	$138,570	1.05	0.74
Human Resources Specialists	400	$55,480	$61,930	6.12	1.04
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians	60	$75,170	$71,440	0.99	2.04
Industrial Engineers	200	$95,160	$95,220	3.03	1.29
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	910	$55,050	$54,750	13.93	4.93
Industrial Production Managers	220	$116,720	$125,180	3.30	2.08
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	2,000	$37,930	$38,590	30.63	6.15
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	830	$43,010	$43,110	12.65	3.29
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	60	$44,760	$48,170	0.94	0.83
Instructional Coordinators	50	$78,300	$80,820	0.77	0.52
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks	50	$42,060	$44,780	0.77	0.56
Insurance Sales Agents	80	$51,500	$55,150	1.24	0.40
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	550	$30,520	$31,510	8.37	0.59
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	40	$62,100	$64,180	0.65	0.92
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	2,470	$37,040	$36,660	37.78	1.99
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	280	$36,390	$36,080	4.30	0.70
Lawyers	120	$91,730	$125,600	1.91	0.39
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	30	$76,000	$75,250	0.52	0.60
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	230	$54,380	$56,480	3.57	0.86
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	40	$57,540	$65,710	0.57	1.20
Light Truck Drivers	350	$50,340	$52,560	5.37	0.85
Loan Officers	50	$61,310	$79,320	0.81	0.46
Logisticians	110	$56,500	$62,310	1.70	1.05
Machinists	120	$48,240	$49,990	1.83	0.99
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	50	$76,920	$75,190	0.74	2.67
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	150	$26,020	$26,620	2.33	0.42
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	1,010	$47,220	$48,330	15.51	1.58
Maintenance Workers, Machinery	50	$47,200	$48,610	0.81	2.09
Management Analysts	180	$98,090	$106,630	2.78	0.48
Managers, All Other	220	$102,740	$118,570	3.38	0.85
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	260	$79,040	$90,040	3.97	0.69
Marketing Managers	80	$162,010	$152,140	1.26	0.49
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians	30	$70,640	$69,590	0.50	2.15
Mechanical Engineers	90	$90,940	$101,790	1.43	0.75
Medical and Health Services Managers	70	$118,720	$144,870	1.05	0.27
Medical Assistants	320	$37,170	$38,400	4.93	0.94
Medical Records Specialists	50	$40,470	$45,570	0.74	0.59
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	430	$36,200	$38,920	6.66	1.08
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	40	$49,490	$59,320	0.54	0.59
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers	40	$33,730	$39,070	0.63	0.60
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	340	$67,380	$69,180	5.28	1.32
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	770	$35,800	$36,520	11.79	1.30
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	190	$44,820	$45,350	2.84	4.65
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	50	$57,150	$54,860	0.76	0.67
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	70	$88,910	$91,260	1.12	0.55
New Accounts Clerks	30	$45,320	$49,020	0.49	2.06
Nurse Practitioners	160	$118,330	$118,010	2.43	1.17
Nursing Assistants	390	$36,110	$35,440	5.93	0.64
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	60	$74,310	$80,030	0.94	1.04
Occupational Therapists	30	$111,580	$103,410	0.46	0.44
Office Clerks, General	1,030	$39,310	$39,900	15.75	0.99
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	200	$40,860	$43,870	3.06	1.00
Order Clerks	70	$31,630	$34,820	1.08	2.23
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	110	$34,590	$34,540	1.63	0.67
Packers and Packagers, Hand	350	$29,780	$29,660	5.29	1.47
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	170	$35,560	$38,170	2.65	4.28
Paralegals and Legal Assistants	80	$47,780	$51,420	1.17	0.46
Parts Salespersons	180	$36,930	$40,410	2.72	1.57
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks	60	$50,780	$50,230	0.87	0.89
Pharmacists	120	$130,050	$133,940	1.88	0.91
Pharmacy Technicians	190	$38,760	$39,620	2.92	0.96
Phlebotomists	80	$37,260	$36,900	1.16	1.25
Physical Therapist Assistants	30	$66,650	$71,100	0.53	0.74
Physical Therapists	50	$109,710	$103,970	0.79	0.46
Physicians, All Other	50	$287,800	$273,840	0.78	0.35
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	90	$47,370	$52,410	1.35	0.45
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	290	$60,130	$60,090	4.48	1.04
Postal Service Mail Carriers	140	$55,450	$58,950	2.11	1.00
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	150	$46,090	$54,420	2.33	0.76
Print Binding and Finishing Workers	60	$37,890	$37,360	0.87	4.09
Printing Press Operators	310	$35,200	$36,980	4.74	5.11
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	40	$57,820	$58,850	0.60	1.05
Production Workers, All Other	680	$38,240	$40,510	10.43	6.44
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	450	$47,540	$51,570	6.86	2.73
Project Management Specialists	300	$98,590	$104,330	4.62	0.67
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	30	$59,520	$79,530	0.52	0.26
Public Relations Specialists	60	$75,500	$79,810	0.85	0.47
Public Safety Telecommunicators	60	$49,720	$48,920	0.85	1.28
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	100	$62,440	$63,420	1.57	1.06
Real Estate Sales Agents	40	$46,430	$51,640	0.64	0.51
Receptionists and Information Clerks	340	$34,570	$33,950	5.24	0.90
Recreation Workers	130	$22,980	$24,710	1.93	0.90
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors	40	$48,420	$45,610	0.54	0.57
Registered Nurses	1,000	$83,290	$85,060	15.36	0.71
Retail Salespersons	1,360	$29,140	$33,480	20.82	0.83
Sales Managers	180	$139,960	$155,000	2.81	0.69
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel	300	$59,500	$74,330	4.53	0.56
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	790	$65,930	$83,910	12.15	1.53
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	350	$65,500	$68,540	5.35	0.78
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	590	$37,440	$38,870	9.08	0.83
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	90	$48,490	$72,080	1.36	0.43
Security Guards	130	$37,820	$36,570	2.05	0.25
Self-Enrichment Teachers	60	$56,520	$53,980	0.91	0.42
Sewing Machine Operators	440	$34,180	$32,250	6.78	10.05
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks	790	$38,910	$39,890	12.02	2.29
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	30	$30,600	$30,480	0.47	0.29
Social and Community Service Managers	50	$67,600	$73,580	0.78	0.58
Social and Human Service Assistants	120	$36,190	$37,750	1.79	0.64
Software Developers	280	$115,480	$120,370	4.25	0.39
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	90	$59,440	$62,060	1.35	0.80
Stockers and Order Fillers	1,040	$33,370	$33,210	15.96	0.88
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	50	$50,050	$55,500	0.81	0.26
Surgical Technologists	30	$57,590	$59,110	0.51	0.67
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	120	$76,420	$74,760	1.81	2.48
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	470	$27,970	$29,400	7.22	0.79
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	60	$56,670	$61,100	0.91	1.01
Tellers	110	$38,660	$39,480	1.69	0.80
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders	150	$44,940	$42,900	2.35	68.89
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	570	$37,820	$37,420	8.80	152.10
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,220	$39,840	$40,780	18.63	222.31
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	3,370	$38,670	$38,380	51.62	364.53
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other	890	$32,220	$35,630	13.61	156.47
Training and Development Managers	30	$129,730	$155,890	0.46	1.49
Training and Development Specialists	210	$58,230	$71,030	3.19	1.08
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	120	$105,800	$122,300	1.80	1.26
Waiters and Waitresses	680	$17,930	$24,810	10.46	0.72
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	60	$60,380	$55,710	0.86	1.04
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	120	$47,190	$47,300	1.89	0.71

Colleges in this area

2 colleges in the federal directory have a campus in this area, listed alphabetically; MajorPays does not rank colleges. Each name links to the college’s profile.

College	Type	Level	Students, fall 2024
Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology	Private for-profit	Less than 2-year	47
Dalton State College	Public	4-year or above	5,135

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS directory (HD 2024, core-based statistical area of the campus) and Fall Enrollment 2024 (total headcount). A count of students is the size of the college, not its quality; the Department has not endorsed this presentation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan area estimates (cross-industry, all ownerships). Wages are pay for all workers in an occupation in this area, not any one person or employer; a dash means BLS does not publish the figure (often to protect privacy or because the estimate is unreliable), and “or more” marks a wage at or above BLS’s top reporting limit. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of jobs in this area divided by its share nationally (1.00 = the same share as the U.S.; above 1.00 = a larger share); it says nothing about pay or openings. Jobs per 1,000 is the occupation's jobs per 1,000 jobs of all kinds in this area. Occupations that BLS reports only as hourly wages are not listed, and BLS shows some wages above its top limit as plain numbers while others read “or more”. Occupations are listed alphabetically; click a heading to sort. MajorPays does not rank places or occupations. MajorPays selected and reorganized these figures; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not approved or endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice. See Data sources.

Explore more: all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas · salary by state · careers