Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic are making an additional investment in their local workforce, announcing an increase in the minimum starting wage for eligible teammates in Northwest Georgia to $18.85 per hour, beginning with Jan. 30 paychecks. Leaders say the change is meant to strengthen long-term workforce stability and support the employees who provide care across the region.

The new minimum represents a $2.85 per-hour increase, or about 17.8%, for impacted teammates at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, both part of Advocate Health, the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system. The move also aligns with Advocate Health’s enterprise-wide goal of setting a unified minimum starting rate across every market in six states, including Georgia and Alabama, and is part of a planned $776 million additional compensation investment for 2026.

Delvecchio Finley, president of Atrium Health’s Georgia market, said many full-time teammates could see nearly $6,000 more per year, helping provide greater financial stability while strengthening the workforce and patient care experience. Advocate Health leaders say the broader compensation framework also includes annual merit planning and pay-range adjustments, along with investments in pay structures aimed at improving retention.