Mayor Andre Dickens announced a significant commitment to the employees of the City of Atlanta by allocating an additional $4 million for salaries next year. The increase will boost the previously approved cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all City employees in 2024, increasing it from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent.

The pay raise reflects the continued focus of the Dickens Administration on supporting and valuing its employees, whose hard work and commitment are critical to making Atlanta the best city to raise a family, while also maintaining strong fiscal and operational stewardship of the city’s resources.

"This is a heartfelt thank you to our employees and a recognition and reward for their dedication,” said Mayor Dickens. “It is also a strategic investment in the human capital that is critical to the City’s operations. As we await the results of the pay and class study, these enhancements reflect our continued commitment to our workforce and the financial stability of our city.”

The City is currently conducting a comprehensive pay and class study, with the initial phases of implementation scheduled for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. The COLA increase to 3.5 percent anticipates the outcomes of this study and proactively ensures the City’s compensation remains competitive and fair. The City is also maintaining competitive benefits for employees without a cost increase to them for the second year in a row.

As part of his FY 2024 budget approved in June, Mayor Dickens had announced the 2.5 percent COLA increase for City employees, along with enhanced pay and retention bonuses for frontline workers where there is high turnover and significant competition for skilled staff.

The additional one percent COLA increase is a down payment on investments in the workforce that support Mayor Dickens’ vision of the City of Atlanta as a model employer for existing employees and a welcoming environment for new talent who are committed to a career in public service and especially energized by dedication to the Atlanta community.

The pay increase enhancements are part of the City’s comprehensive and robust financial strategy, made possible by higher-than-expected revenues from sales taxes and business licenses that have led to healthy reserves that exceed requirements.

To learn more about job opportunities at the City of Atlanta, find them online here.