Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
65 Highest Paying Jobs in Cincinnati, OH (2026)
The highest-paying job in Cincinnati, OH, Ohio is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $218,880 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 65 tracked occupations the average median is $106,000, with 35 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Cincinnati, OH has a cost-of-living index of 91.2 (national average = 100), so a $106,000 nominal salary equals $116,228 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 65 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Cincinnati, OH, OH, from BLS OEWS data. Cincinnati, OH's cost-of-living index runs 91.2 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Cincinnati, OH, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Cincinnati, OH
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Cincinnati, OH's cost-of-living index of 91.2 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $218,880 · 10th–90th $71,310–$319,410 · 190 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Cincinnati, OH earn $218,880 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $319,410. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $240,000 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $217,510 · 10th–90th $66,890–$492,140 · 140 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Cincinnati, OH earn $217,510 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $492,140. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $238,498 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $216,750 · 10th–90th $83,340–$287,840 · 420 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Cincinnati, OH earn $216,750 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $287,840. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $237,664 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $206,100 · 10th–90th $66,680–$378,600 · 380 jobs in metro
Dentists in Cincinnati, OH earn $206,100 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $378,600. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $225,987 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $169,530 · 10th–90th $104,560–$281,130 · 3,920 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Cincinnati, OH earn $169,530 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $281,130. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $185,888 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $156,990 · 10th–90th $66,760–$249,510 · 300 jobs in metro
Optometrists in Cincinnati, OH earn $156,990 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $249,510. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $172,138 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $155,910 · 10th–90th $44,530–$159,360 · 50 jobs in metro
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in Cincinnati, OH earn $155,910 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $159,360. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $170,954 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $152,700 · 10th–90th $93,210–$293,320 · 6,340 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Cincinnati, OH earn $152,700 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $293,320. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $167,434 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $145,770 · 10th–90th $81,070–$263,930 · 2,730 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Cincinnati, OH earn $145,770 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $263,930. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $159,836 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $140,200 · 10th–90th $102,600–$169,790 · 2,380 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in Cincinnati, OH earn $140,200 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $169,790. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $153,728 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Full Ranking (65 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $218,880 | $71,310–$319,410 | $240,000 | 190 |
| 2 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $217,510 | $66,890–$492,140 | $238,498 | 140 |
| 3 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $216,750 | $83,340–$287,840 | $237,664 | 420 |
| 4 | Dentist | Healthcare | $206,100 | $66,680–$378,600 | $225,987 | 380 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $169,530 | $104,560–$281,130 | $185,888 | 3,920 |
| 6 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $156,990 | $66,760–$249,510 | $172,138 | 300 |
| 7 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $155,910 | $44,530–$159,360 | $170,954 | 50 |
| 8 | Financial Manager | Finance | $152,700 | $93,210–$293,320 | $167,434 | 6,340 |
| 9 | Marketing Manager | Management | $145,770 | $81,070–$263,930 | $159,836 | 2,730 |
| 10 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $140,200 | $102,600–$169,790 | $153,728 | 2,380 |
| 11 | Sales Manager | Management | $138,790 | $77,210–$267,180 | $152,182 | 5,180 |
| 12 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $133,000 | $83,500–$183,610 | $145,833 | 1,170 |
| 13 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $132,070 | $81,440–$223,940 | $144,814 | 1,920 |
| 14 | Lawyer | Legal | $130,980 | $72,660–$280,430 | $143,618 | 3,870 |
| 15 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $128,700 | $89,710–$162,510 | $141,118 | 2,820 |
| 16 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $128,520 | $68,300–$179,120 | $140,921 | 920 |
| 17 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $127,670 | $57,870–$209,000 | $139,989 | 650 |
| 18 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $127,150 | $75,410–$171,840 | $139,419 | 2,100 |
| 19 | Software Developer | Technology | $121,420 | $78,790–$172,240 | $133,136 | 9,900 |
| 20 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $114,300 | $71,390–$169,880 | $125,329 | 1,320 |
| 21 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $106,540 | $71,360–$187,620 | $116,820 | 4,690 |
| 22 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $105,360 | $56,250–$159,440 | $115,526 | 410 |
| 23 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $105,350 | $77,600–$159,380 | $115,515 | 1,170 |
| 24 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $105,140 | $77,960–$159,860 | $115,285 | 5,430 |
| 25 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $104,220 | $76,290–$168,520 | $114,276 | 3,310 |
| 26 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $103,450 | $66,720–$172,930 | $113,432 | 4,240 |
| 27 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $102,940 | $81,800–$131,490 | $112,873 | 1,700 |
| 28 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $102,890 | $80,190–$125,800 | $112,818 | 2,090 |
| 29 | Data Scientist | Technology | $102,650 | $64,420–$161,490 | $112,555 | 1,680 |
| 30 | Database Architect | Technology | $102,360 | $57,790–$156,770 | $112,237 | 400 |
| 31 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $101,640 | $62,550–$142,660 | $111,447 | 410 |
| 32 | Network Architect | Technology | $101,530 | $63,610–$147,890 | $111,327 | 2,960 |
| 33 | Statistician | Technology | $101,500 | $63,720–$157,000 | $111,294 | 250 |
| 34 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $100,870 | $79,250–$128,620 | $110,603 | 1,360 |
| 35 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $100,670 | $49,550–$222,520 | $110,384 | 29,330 |
| 36 | Architect | Engineering | $98,750 | $61,450–$162,860 | $108,279 | 670 |
| 37 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $98,220 | $65,190–$137,590 | $107,697 | 2,110 |
| 38 | Management Analyst | Management | $97,360 | $62,410–$142,150 | $106,754 | 4,710 |
| 39 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $95,930 | $61,270–$127,610 | $105,186 | 1,690 |
| 40 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $94,960 | $23,050–$217,250 | $104,123 | 640 |
| 41 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $87,940 | $59,010–$134,490 | $96,425 | 920 |
| 42 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $87,030 | $58,490–$125,200 | $95,428 | 220 |
| 43 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $86,040 | $51,820–$161,610 | $94,342 | 2,670 |
| 44 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $84,700 | $46,660–$151,320 | $92,873 | 840 |
| 45 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $83,650 | $67,820–$107,190 | $91,721 | 28,520 |
| 46 | Web Developer | Technology | $82,820 | $49,010–$133,640 | $90,811 | 570 |
| 47 | Web Designer | Technology | $80,910 | $56,430–$129,850 | $88,717 | 280 |
| 48 | Accountant | Finance | $80,640 | $57,740–$132,680 | $88,421 | 10,050 |
| 49 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $80,540 | $45,220–$307,940 | $88,311 | 2,510 |
| 50 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $78,310 | $51,030–$135,570 | $85,866 | 630 |
| 51 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $75,750 | $44,970–$134,270 | $83,059 | 7,080 |
| 52 | Loan Officer | Finance | $75,300 | $42,290–$130,670 | $82,566 | 2,060 |
| 53 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $71,920 | $42,520–$122,390 | $78,860 | 1,420 |
| 54 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $66,190 | $48,660–$101,150 | $72,577 | 8,450 |
| 55 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $65,370 | $40,330–$97,980 | $71,678 | 2,920 |
| 56 | Plumber | Trades | $65,160 | $46,830–$101,800 | $71,447 | 3,640 |
| 57 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $64,740 | $47,790–$98,950 | $70,987 | 9,150 |
| 58 | Paralegal | Legal | $64,330 | $47,680–$94,970 | $70,537 | 1,700 |
| 59 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $64,040 | $39,610–$113,760 | $70,219 | 1,470 |
| 60 | Electrician | Trades | $63,490 | $38,530–$98,260 | $69,616 | 5,640 |
| 61 | Writer/Author | Creative | $62,440 | $22,480–$94,190 | $68,465 | 170 |
| 62 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $62,260 | $40,170–$100,600 | $68,268 | 1,730 |
| 63 | Carpenter | Trades | $60,110 | $44,180–$79,750 | $65,910 | 4,610 |
| 64 | Welder | Trades | $51,990 | $39,460–$73,970 | $57,007 | 3,160 |
| 65 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $49,090 | $35,090–$80,820 | $53,827 | 4,520 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, OH's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Cincinnati, OH's cost-of-living index of 91.2 runs 9% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Family Medicine Physician with five-plus years of experience in Cincinnati, OH should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($269,145) or 90th percentile ($319,410), not the $218,880 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $219K Family Medicine Physician salary in Cincinnati, OH (COL 91.2) translates to $240K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Family Medicine Physician in Cincinnati, OH page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Cincinnati, OH is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $218,880 and a 90th-percentile reading of $319,410. The role employs roughly 190 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
35 of the 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Cincinnati, OH have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 65 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Cincinnati, OH is $106,000. The cost-of-living index is 91.2, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $116,228 in equivalent purchasing power.
Cincinnati, OH has a cost-of-living index of 91.2, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Family Medicine Physician, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Pediatrician occupations at the top of the ranking.
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 across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.