8 Fastest-Growing Jobs in Georgia

• Georgia has a strong, growing job market with many career opportunities.
• Careers in healthcare, aviation, and the film industry are in high demand.
• Many of the fastest-growing careers require a college degree.
• Researching fast-growing jobs in Georgia can help you pick a college major.

Looking for work in the Peach State? You’re in luck — Georgia has a strong job market and many top-ranked colleges. In Georgia, some surprising careers report strong demand.

Want to work as a film editor? Or an airline pilot? Both jobs will see growth over the next decade. And even better, these in-demand jobs pay above-average salaries.

If you’re considering earning a degree in Georgia, researching the fastest-growing jobs can set you up for success.

8 Fastest-Growing Jobs in Georgia That Require a Degree

You'll likely need a college degree for many high-paying, high-demand careers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean spending years on an advanced degree. Some in-demand Georgia jobs only require a two-year associate degree.

Read about the fast-growing jobs in Georgia that require a degree below. All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and all occupation data is sourced from the Department of Labor (DoL). You can refer to Georgia's occupational outlook projections for more detailed occupation data.

1. Nurse Practitioners

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Master's degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $121,610
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +78.7%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 6,470 more jobs

Nurse practitioners work in the fastest-growing job in Georgia that requires a degree. These advanced practice nurses diagnose medical conditions, treat patients, and work with greater independence than registered nurses.

Thanks to a high salary and 6% annual growth rate in Georgia, studying to become a nurse practitioner can pay off. You’ll need an RN license and a master’s degree, plus a nurse practitioner license. You can enroll in an online nurse practitioner program to meet the educational requirements.

2. Occupational Therapy Assistants

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Associate degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $64,250
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +62.8%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 690 more jobs

With a two-year degree, you can become an occupational therapy assistant. These allied health professionals guide patients through therapeutic activities and assist occupational therapists. You’ll need to attend an accredited occupational therapy program to qualify for a Georgia occupational therapy assistant license.

The field reports a 5% annual projected growth rate for jobs in Georgia, which makes it one of the fastest-growing careers. By the end of the decade, the number of occupational therapy assistants in the Peach State will increase by more than 60%.

3. Physical Therapist Assistants

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Associate degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $62,770
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +58.5%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 1,500 more jobs

Many healthcare jobs in Georgia report strong growth. Physical therapist assistants help patients recover from musculoskeletal injuries. And with a 4.7% projected annual growth, the field will add around 1,500 jobs by the end of the decade.

You can become a physical therapist assistant in Georgia by attending a two-year physical therapist assistant program. These programs cover human anatomy and physiology with hands-on clinical training. Like other states, Georgia requires a physical therapist assistant license.

4. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor's degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $211,790
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +48.8%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 2,020 more jobs

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a major hub for national and international travel. So, it’s no surprise that airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers rank high on the list of fastest-growing jobs in Georgia. Annually, these careers will grow at a projected 4.1% rate. That means an additional 2,000 jobs by 2030.

These aeronautics careers generally require a bachelor’s degree. You can prepare for jobs as a pilot, copilot, or flight engineer by attending an aviation or aeronautics program.

5. Archivists

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Master's degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $58,640
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +42.3%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 80 more jobs

While there aren’t many archivists in Georgia, it’s still one of the fastest-growing jobs, with a 3.6% annual projected growth rate. Archivists preserve documents and objects. They work in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.

You’ll need a master’s degree to become an archivist. In addition to archival studies programs, you can become an archivist with a library science degree or a history degree. You don’t need a license to work as an archivist in Georgia.

6. Speech-Language Pathologists

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Master's degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $84,140
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +41.6%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 1,480 more jobs

Want a high-paying, in-demand career in medicine that doesn’t require med school? Consider becoming a speech-language pathologist. They evaluate and treat patients with speech, language, and swallowing disorders. And in Georgia, speech-language pathologists can benefit from a 3.5% annual projected growth rate.

You’ll need a speech pathology degree to work in Georgia. These two-year master’s programs cover speech and language disorders, alternative communication, and supervised clinical experience. The career also requires a state-issued speech pathology license.

7. Film and Video Editors

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor's degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $63,520
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +41.6%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 420 more jobs

Georgia boasts the country’s fastest-growing film industry, according to a report by Georgia State University's Creative Medias Immersive Institute. And that makes it a great time to become a film and video editor. These film careers report a 3.5% annual projected growth rate and an above-average salary for Georgia.

As a film and video editor, you’ll cut raw footage from television shows and movies into finished products. Most roles require a bachelor’s degree. You can earn a film degree online to prepare for careers in film and video editing.

8. Epidemiologists

• Minimum Educational Requirement: Master's degree
• Median Annual Wage (May 2022): $78,520
• Projected Percent Change in Employment (2020-2030): +38.7%
• Projected Total Change in Employment by 2030: 130 more jobs

With a 3.3% annual projected job growth, epidemiologists rank among the fastest-growing jobs in Georgia. These public health experts investigate infectious diseases and other threats to public health. The high demand for epidemiologists will likely continue in the future.

You’ll need a master’s degree in public health, also known as an MPH, to become an epidemiologist. An MPH takes two years to complete, and you can enroll in an online MPH program for greater flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jobs in Georgia

What are the highest-paying jobs in Georgia?

The highest-paying jobs in Georgia include physicians, CEOs, and airline pilots, according to May 2022 BLS data. Airline pilots are also one of the fastest-growing jobs in the state.

Many of the highest-paying careers require a graduate degree. Nurse anesthetists, lawyers, and optometrists all need postgraduate education. Other high-paying jobs do not require a graduate degree, including financial managers and sales managers.

What city in Georgia has the most jobs?

The Atlanta metro area has the most jobs of any city in Georgia, according to 2022 BLS data. Atlanta accounts for 2.7 million jobs in Georgia. In total, the state reports around 4.6 million jobs.

In Atlanta, the highest-paying jobs include surgeons, chief executives, and tech managers. The fastest-growing and highest-salary jobs in Georgia typically require a college degree.

What jobs are in high demand in Georgia?

The fastest-growing jobs in Georgia include nurse practitioner, flight attendant, and cooks, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. Jobs in healthcare, entertainment, and the service industry also report strong demand.

Many of the highest-paying careers on the list require a college degree. For example, occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants need an associate degree. Airline pilots need a bachelor’s degree. Archivists and epidemiologists need a master’s degree.