StateRates

Dalton salaries

The median worker in the Dalton, GA metro area earned $40,820 a year in 2024, about $19.63 an hour. That ranks #345 of the 391 metro areas published here, 17.5% below the national median.

Georgia

Median pay $40,820 $19.63 per hour
Vs national -17.5% U.S. $49,500
Workers 66,420 wage and salary
Metro rank #345 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Dalton pays 13.2% less than Georgia as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 366.34× 3,250 $37,870
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 252.95× 1,580 $38,550
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers 141.08× 910 $44,180
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other 119.13× 740 $30,950
Sewing Machine Operators 11.55× 550 $30,080
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 6.06× 2,100 $36,970
Production Workers, All Other 5.55× 660 $37,440
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 4.82× 880 $55,170
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 3.88× 1,140 $59,940
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 3.66× 930 $40,300
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks 3.27× 540 $47,280
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 2.16× 800 $35,960

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Dalton
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Sales Managers $127,020 $61.07 210
Industrial Production Managers $116,600 $56.06 210
Software Developers $102,480 $49.27 250
Managers, All Other $102,010 $49.04 260
General and Operations Managers $89,990 $43.26 1,130
Registered Nurses $80,120 $38.52 1,190
Management Analysts $79,300 $38.13 210
Project Management Specialists $78,390 $37.69 290
Accountants and Auditors $75,480 $36.29 420
Electrical Engineers $74,080 $35.62 200
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $67,280 $32.35 340
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $64,720 $31.12 250
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $64,270 n/a 540
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $63,100 $30.34 620
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $62,280 n/a 400
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $61,210 n/a 990
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,840 $29.25 290
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $60,680 $29.18 650
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $59,960 $28.83 1,030
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $59,940 $28.82 1,140
Computer User Support Specialists $57,710 $27.75 250
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $57,030 $27.42 280
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $56,690 $27.25 370
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $55,170 $26.52 880
Human Resources Specialists $55,120 $26.50 420
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $53,030 $25.50 220
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $52,410 $25.20 1,500
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $51,770 $24.89 270
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $47,280 $22.73 540
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $46,570 $22.39 210
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $46,500 $22.36 240
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $46,110 $22.17 1,050
Light Truck Drivers $44,400 $21.35 380
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $44,270 $21.28 530
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers $44,180 $21.24 910
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $44,130 $21.21 200
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders $43,230 $20.79 220
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $42,960 $20.65 220
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $40,300 $19.38 930
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $38,550 $18.54 1,580
Office Clerks, General $38,150 $18.34 1,070
Dental Assistants $38,040 $18.29 270
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $37,870 $18.21 3,250
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $37,770 $18.16 490
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $37,590 $18.07 430
Customer Service Representatives $37,570 $18.06 1,380
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $37,500 $18.03 670
Production Workers, All Other $37,440 $18.00 660
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $36,970 $17.77 2,100
Printing Press Operators $36,910 $17.75 300
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $36,660 $17.62 210
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $36,570 $17.58 2,750
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $36,330 $17.46 220
Construction Laborers $36,230 $17.42 220
Medical Assistants $36,200 $17.41 340
Nursing Assistants $36,090 $17.35 400
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $35,960 $17.29 800
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $35,540 $17.09 790
Pharmacy Technicians $35,400 $17.02 210
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,130 $16.89 530

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Dalton by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 3,250 $37,870 $18.21
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 2,750 $36,570 $17.58
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 2,100 $36,970 $17.77
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,600 $23,300 $11.20
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 1,580 $38,550 $18.54
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,500 $52,410 $25.20
Retail Salespersons 1,480 $27,650 $13.30
Customer Service Representatives 1,380 $37,570 $18.06
Registered Nurses 1,190 $80,120 $38.52
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,190 $32,630 $15.69
Cashiers 1,170 $25,970 $12.49
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1,140 $59,940 $28.82
General and Operations Managers 1,130 $89,990 $43.26
Office Clerks, General 1,070 $38,150 $18.34
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,050 $46,110 $22.17
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 1,030 $59,960 $28.83
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 990 $61,210 n/a
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 930 $40,300 $19.38
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers 910 $44,180 $21.24
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 880 $55,170 $26.52

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Georgia metro areas

Dalton pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Dalton?

The median across all occupations is $40,820, or $19.63 an hour, covering 66,420 wage and salary workers. The mean is $52,330, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Dalton pay more than the rest of Georgia?

No. The metro median of $40,820 is 13.2% below the Georgia median of $47,020. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Dalton?

Sales Managers ($127,020), Industrial Production Managers ($116,600), Software Developers ($102,480). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Dalton unusually full of?

Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, at 366.34× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.