Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Columbus, OH Average Salary 2026
Cost of living, occupation-by-occupation pay, and percentile ranges from official BLS data.
The average salary in Columbus, OH, Ohio is $100,947 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (2025 reference period) covering 63 occupations and roughly 228,940 workers. Adjusted for Columbus, OH's cost-of-living index of 93.1, that nominal average translates to $108,429 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. The highest-paying tracked occupation is Obstetrician/Gynecologist at $179,810; the lowest is Welder at $51,260.
Columbus, OH, OH has below-baseline cost-of-living (index 93.1), which means the $100,947 average median wage translates to higher real purchasing power than the same number would in higher-COL markets.
Highest-paying role in Columbus, OH on BLS data is Obstetrician/Gynecologist at $179,810 median. Top-paying roles in any U.S. city skew toward physicians, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals; the specific ranking varies with the local industry mix. Lower-COL cities like Columbus, OH often outperform higher-COL ones on cost-adjusted real income for the same role, especially for workers in mid-paying occupations whose gross wages do not vary as much by city.
Salaries by Occupation in Columbus, OH
| Role | Category | Median | Range (10th–90th) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $179,810 | $102,160 – $181,520 | 490 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $167,630 | $105,720 – $270,450 | 4,330 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $166,180 | $64,100 – $306,960 | 780 |
| Financial Manager | Finance | $145,630 | $91,210 – $267,050 | 5,750 |
| Sales Manager | Management | $138,580 | $77,750 – $254,150 | 4,460 |
| Lawyer | Legal | $137,810 | $79,510 – $235,150 | 4,960 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $137,550 | $97,820 – $212,220 | 1,140 |
| Marketing Manager | Management | $134,420 | $82,950 – $224,440 | 2,330 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $133,960 | $50,450 – $166,620 | 2,610 |
| Optometrist | Healthcare | $133,370 | $67,350 – $211,980 | 260 |
| Computer Network Architect | Technology | $131,260 | $85,410 – $180,790 | 1,270 |
| Human Resources Manager | Management | $131,100 | $89,150 – $220,890 | 1,870 |
| Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $129,940 | $60,150 – $162,930 | 2,410 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $124,580 | $99,960 – $150,250 | 3,140 |
| Veterinarian | Healthcare | $123,270 | $47,990 – $208,390 | 850 |
| Information Security Analyst | Technology | $122,600 | $75,820 – $174,670 | 1,650 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $122,340 | $80,130 – $170,000 | 9,880 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $111,400 | $67,790 – $317,130 | 420 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $107,950 | $63,530 – $169,380 | 1,480 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $107,520 | $71,400 – $212,620 | 5,370 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $107,230 | $67,160 – $154,660 | 4,660 |
| Network Architect | Technology | $105,750 | $65,780 – $143,780 | 3,970 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $105,130 | $79,060 – $124,110 | 2,030 |
| Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $104,970 | $52,000 – $135,500 | 670 |
| Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $103,110 | $64,490 – $134,950 | 780 |
| General and Operations Manager | Management | $102,590 | $50,440 – $221,270 | 29,070 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $102,380 | $75,590 – $150,160 | 1,100 |
| Database Architect | Technology | $101,450 | $52,980 – $144,430 | 430 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $100,730 | $71,870 – $131,390 | 2,630 |
| Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,570 | $77,000 – $135,080 | 3,710 |
| Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $99,180 | $63,980 – $137,690 | 990 |
| Architect | Engineering | $99,140 | $62,220 – $167,110 | 960 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $99,010 | $68,340 – $169,390 | 2,630 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $98,920 | $65,060 – $119,710 | 1,370 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $97,920 | $63,550 – $145,000 | 2,870 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $96,880 | $81,780 – $99,730 | 1,700 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $96,460 | $65,460 – $120,200 | 1,390 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $96,010 | $56,490 – $167,010 | 620 |
| Management Analyst | Management | $90,010 | $63,460 – $146,200 | 7,840 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $83,900 | $67,720 – $105,770 | 30,510 |
| Web Designer | Technology | $83,860 | $49,990 – $132,800 | 350 |
| Loan Officer | Finance | $82,160 | $39,650 – $144,880 | 2,410 |
| Accountant | Finance | $81,700 | $56,610 – $132,330 | 11,410 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $81,600 | $47,860 – $215,250 | 1,900 |
| Secondary School Teacher | Education | $81,400 | $51,340 – $118,650 | 9,210 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $81,220 | $50,770 – $147,740 | 1,710 |
| Financial Examiner | Finance | $81,000 | $59,670 – $129,490 | 930 |
| Computer Programmer | Technology | $80,910 | $51,270 – $128,160 | 410 |
| Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $80,670 | $38,660 – $222,830 | 750 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Education | $78,150 | $48,760 – $102,050 | 9,950 |
| Statistician | Technology | $78,040 | $57,270 – $147,240 | 60 |
| Market Research Analyst | Management | $77,010 | $41,460 – $130,770 | 5,880 |
| Writer/Author | Creative | $76,490 | $54,470 – $104,500 | 240 |
| Audiologist | Healthcare | $75,400 | $59,010 – $104,790 | 260 |
| Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $73,280 | $45,190 – $124,430 | 1,840 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $66,480 | $47,270 – $82,630 | 3,620 |
| Electrician | Trades | $64,700 | $46,090 – $94,410 | 7,210 |
| Graphic Designer | Creative | $64,000 | $42,430 – $102,710 | 1,470 |
| Plumber | Trades | $63,260 | $40,820 – $103,000 | 3,060 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $62,240 | $39,470 – $95,100 | 2,520 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $60,430 | $47,090 – $98,030 | 2,260 |
| Automotive Technician | Trades | $56,150 | $34,420 – $85,590 | 3,920 |
| Welder | Trades | $51,260 | $40,100 – $70,470 | 2,190 |
What These Numbers Tell You
The single highest-paying occupation tracked in Columbus, OH is Obstetrician/Gynecologist, with a median of $179,810 and a 90th-percentile reading of $181,520. That $79,360 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles is typical for a role of this seniority — entry-level workers cluster near the bottom of the band, while senior specialists and managers earn at the top.
Across all 63 BLS-tracked occupations in Columbus, OH, the average median salary is $100,947. The top five roles average $159,566 — about 1.6× the citywide average — which is the expected shape for a U.S. metro economy: a small concentration of high-skill, high-credential occupations sits well above the broader middle.
Columbus, OH runs below the U.S. average on cost of living (index 93.1, about 7% below the national mean). Lower nominal salaries here often translate to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs.
Salary Negotiation in Columbus, OH
For salary negotiation in Columbus, OH, the practical input is the percentile band for your role and city, not the citywide average. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages for every metro and occupation; you can find your role's exact percentile in the table above and use the SalaryTruth percentile calculator to anchor your offer. Cost-of-living index 93.1 should also factor in any cross-metro comparison.
For city-vs-city moves, the right benchmark is COL-adjusted pay rather than nominal pay. Our COL-adjusted salaries guide shows the exact math; the negotiation playbook covers how to use BLS percentile bands to anchor offers.
How Columbus, OH Salary Data Is Built
Wages on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — a federal survey of more than 1.2 million U.S. establishments, published once per year by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. We pull the BLS data file for Columbus, OH, match each occupation against our role catalog, and surface percentile wages alongside employment counts. The cost-of-living index (93.1) is a composite of housing, food, transportation, and utility data from public sources, calibrated to a U.S. national average of 100. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Columbus, OH in 2026?
The average salary in Columbus, OH is $100,947 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release covering 63 occupations. The mean (employment-weighted average) gives slightly more weight to large occupations; the median across roles is also close to $100,947. The top-paying role is Obstetrician/Gynecologist at $179,810.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Columbus, OH?
In Columbus, OH, $100,000 has the purchasing power of $107,411 in an average-cost U.S. metro (COL index 93.1). That is above $100K of buying power — a $100K salary stretches further in Columbus, OH than in most U.S. metros. Compared to the city's average median of $100,947, $100K is below the typical worker.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Columbus, OH?
The top-paying tracked occupations in Columbus, OH are Obstetrician/Gynecologist ($179,810), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($167,630), Dentist ($166,180), and Financial Manager ($145,630). Across the top 10, median salaries range from $133,370 to $179,810. See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/columbus.
How does Columbus, OH's cost of living affect salaries?
Columbus, OH has a cost-of-living index of 93.1, 7% below the U.S. national average. A nominal salary of $100,947 in this metro has the equivalent purchasing power of $108,429 in an average-cost U.S. city. Housing is the dominant driver of this gap; in higher-COL markets, mortgage or rent typically eats 5–15 percentage points more of pre-tax pay than in average-cost metros.
How many people are employed in Columbus, OH?
Across the 63 BLS-tracked occupations on this page, total employment in the Columbus, OH metro is approximately 228,940. BLS OEWS sample-based estimates cover all major occupational categories but exclude very small or volatile fields where the sample is too thin to publish.
Where does this Columbus, OH salary data come from?
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. The same data is used by the U.S. Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Columbus, OH MSA, 2026 release. Public domain. See bls.gov/oes. Cite as: "SalaryTruth, BLS OEWS 2026."
Last refreshed 2026-05-21 · 63 occupations · COL Index 93.1.