Ohio Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Ohio.
The average salary in Ohio is $104,622 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2025 data aggregated across 2 metropolitan areas (Cincinnati, Columbus). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Pediatrician at $216,750 median; 32 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 92, the average median equates to $113,720 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Ohio has 2 metropolitan areas in our BLS OEWS coverage. Wages within the state vary substantially by metro — large coastal cities typically pay materially more than smaller inland ones, though the cost-of-living gap closes a lot of the apparent difference. BLS OEWS data captures every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) above a population threshold. Cities below that threshold roll up to non-metropolitan areas, which are not represented in the per-metro view but are captured in state-level rollups.
For workers comparing Ohio job markets, the per-metro pages give the role-specific breakdown that headline state averages obscure. The role-specific ranking pages — which list the highest-paying cities for a single occupation — are particularly useful when geographic flexibility is real and the role is the constraint.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Ohio
Pediatrician
Healthcare · 420 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($216,750)
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Healthcare · 630 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($217,510)
Dentist
Healthcare · 1,160 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($206,100)
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 8,250 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($169,530)
Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Technology · 50 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($155,910)
Financial Manager
Finance · 12,090 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($152,700)
Optometrist
Healthcare · 560 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($156,990)
Family Medicine Physician
Healthcare · 610 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($218,880)
Marketing Manager
Management · 5,060 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($145,770)
Sales Manager
Management · 9,640 jobs in state · top metro: Cincinnati ($138,790)
Cities in Ohio
Cincinnati, OH
65 occupations tracked · COL index: 91.2
Columbus, OH
63 occupations tracked · COL index: 93.1
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Ohio is $104,622 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release aggregated across 2 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Pediatrician at $216,750 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Ohio, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Pediatrician ($216,750), Obstetrician/Gynecologist ($188,188), Dentist ($179,257), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($168,533), Software Quality Assurance Analyst ($155,910). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/ohio.
32 of the 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Ohio have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally.
Cincinnati, OH leads Ohio with an average median salary of $106,000 across 65 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Ohio's tracked metros is 92 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $104,622 translates to $113,720 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. Low COL means nominal pay translates to better-than-average buying power.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Ohio, using the OEWS 2025 reference period.
128 data points · BLS OEWS 2025 · last refreshed 2026-05-21
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.