ROME, Ga., Jan. 28, 2026 – Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic are making a significant additional investment into their local workforce, announcing an increase in the minimum starting wage for eligible teammates in Northwest Georgia to $18.85 per hour, which will be reflected on the teammates’ Jan. 30 paychecks.
The new minimum wage represents a $2.85 per-hour — or 17.8% — increase for teammates at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, which are part of Advocate Health, the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system.
The increase achieves Advocate Health’s enterprise‑wide goal of setting a unified minimum starting rate for all teammates across every market in six states, including Georgia and Alabama. It is part of a planned $776 million in additional compensation investment for 2026 — one of the largest single‑year commitments in the system’s history — aimed at promoting long-term workforce stability, expanding career opportunities and cultivating a nationally competitive workplace that supports teammates who deliver exceptional care in the communities they serve.
“Increasing our starting wage is a direct way Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic can support the teammates who care for families across Northwest Georgia,” said Delvecchio Finley, president of Atrium Health’s Georgia market. “For many full‑time teammates, this change amounts to almost $6,000 more income each year, providing financial stability that makes a real difference at home. Strengthening our workforce ultimately strengthens the care experience for every patient who walks through our doors.”
Since Floyd health system first joined what is now Advocate Health in 2021, the system has made significant, sustained investments in its workforce, including yearly minimum starting rate increases that have significantly outpaced the current minimum wage standards. Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic teammates will now earn at least $11.60 per hour more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, or over $24,000 per year more than they would if they were paid the federal minimum wage, assuming a 40-hour work week.
A unified approach to competitive compensation
Advocate Health’s $776 million workforce investment advances a comprehensive compensation framework that includes:
- A unified $18.85 minimum starting rate for all divisions across entire six-state service territory — delivering consistency and creating a stable, competitive enterprise-wide entry wage for roles such as environmental services technicians, food service assistants, patient safety attendants, and patient and equipment transporters.
- Annual merit planning and pay-range adjustments, shaped by teammate feedback, to stay aligned with evolving market conditions.
- Investments in pay structures, pay grades and eligible base pay increases to strengthen retention and support workforce stability.
“By aligning Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic with a unified minimum starting rate, we’re ensuring teammates in Northwest Georgia experience the full benefit of being part of Advocate Health,” said Nakesha Lopez, executive vice president and chief people and culture officer at Advocate Health. “This increase strengthens the foundation for every teammate and underscores our promise to invest in their growth, well-being and long-term success.”
In determining pay structures, including minimum wage, across the enterprise, Advocate Health partners with leading third-party compensation consultants, participates in national market surveys, and analyzes reliable, law-compliant pay data to ensure our compensation rates are competitive, equitable and aligned with industry standards.