Average Salaries in Ohio
Explore salaries across 785 occupations in Ohio. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $69.7K, +6.0% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 785 occupations and 5,533,340 total jobs in Ohio.
How the state compares
Ohio pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Ohio has a large and diverse labor market, with meaningful employment across most occupations.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Surgeons, All Other. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Ohio
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Ohio
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeons, All Other | $554.2K | 980 |
| Cardiologists | $504.3K | 760 |
| Anesthesiologists | $490.5K | 780 |
| Pediatric Surgeons | $488.2K | N/A |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $377.5K | 1,170 |
| Dermatologists | $373.6K | N/A |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $323.5K | 500 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $309.5K | 600 |
| Physicians, All Other | $297.4K | 21,160 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $271.3K | 150 |
Largest occupations in Ohio
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 163,560 | $28.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 153,160 | $97.7K |
| Registered Nurses | 143,730 | $82.5K |
| Retail Salespersons | 137,370 | $30.8K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 129,760 | $37.1K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 108,830 | $39.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 106,940 | $34.5K |
| Cashiers | 103,020 | $29.3K |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers And Fabricators | 93,480 | $45.7K |
| Office Clerks, General | 89,310 | $43.7K |
What Ohio specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Ohio than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Ohio
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 6.50 | $58.5K |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 3.51 | $49.2K |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, And Kettle Operators And Tenders | 3.10 | $46.2K |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators And Tenders | 2.99 | $55.1K |
| Pourers And Casters, Metal | 2.84 | $60.8K |
| Engine And Other Machine Assemblers | 2.83 | $74.8K |
| Tool And Die Makers | 2.72 | $62.3K |
| Bailiffs | 2.66 | $51.1K |
| Audiologists | 2.52 | $81.4K |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, And Tenders, Metal And Plastic | 2.51 | $46.4K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Ohio
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Ohio
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $71.5K | 1,093,270 |
| Columbus, OH | $71K | 1,093,020 |
| Cleveland, OH | $67.6K | 1,017,100 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $68K | 365,960 |
| Akron, OH | $65K | 312,120 |
| Toledo, OH | $67.3K | 284,870 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $60.1K | 155,930 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $58K | 153,070 |
| Lima, OH | $61.3K | 44,110 |
| Sandusky, OH | $59.4K | 43,460 |
Common salary questions for Ohio
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.