The mean annual wage for managers in Georgia is $105,680, which is very close to the national mean. Georgia offers a number of advantages to businesses operating in the state, including low corporate tax (6 percent), high bond ratings and business development support. In 2011, a nationwide survey of location consultants ranked Georgia the second best state to do business in, while CNBC ranked it No. 4. Site Selection Magazine and Chief Executive both ranked Georgia fifth in their evaluations of the best states for business. What all that adds up to is a very friendly business climate, where an enterprising MBA graduate stands a good chance of earning a six-figure salary while steadily climbing the corporate ladder.

Major industries in Georgia include agriculture, aerospace, tourism, defense and manufacturing. The Atlanta metropolitan area offers the most opportunities to MBA graduates. Home to 5 million people, the city offers a unique mixture of Southern hospitality and urban sophistication. Options for earning an MBA in Atlanta include Georgia Tech’s College of Management, Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, and online MBA programs like the MBA@UNC, which is offered by University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.