SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Ohio
Ohio · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Ohio is $82,510 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 15.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Ohio is $82,510 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 15.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $79,200 and $99,030. The lowest tenth earn under $66,980, while the highest tenth earn more than $105,290.
The area has 143,730 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 25.9 of every thousand jobs. Ohio ranks number 38th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Cleveland records the highest median at $83,940. Of the 774 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 151st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,980 | −31.3% |
| 25th | $79,200 | −18.8% |
| Median (50th) | $82,510 | −15.4% |
| 75th | $99,030 | +1.5% |
| 90th | $105,290 | +7.9% |
| Mean | $87,730 | −10.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | $83,940 | 28,240 | |
| 2 | Columbus | $83,900 | 30,510 | |
| 3 | Cincinnati | $83,650 | 28,520 | |
| 4 | Dayton | $82,510 | 11,640 | |
| 5 | Lima | $81,440 | 1,630 | |
| 6 | Sandusky | $81,310 | 940 | |
| 7 | Mansfield | $81,300 | 1,160 | |
| 8 | Toledo | $81,050 | 7,890 | |
| 9 | Akron | $80,770 | 8,040 | |
| 10 | Springfield | $80,060 | 1,060 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $82,510 goes as far as $88,912 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$88,912US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,510 a year, 15.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $66,980 to $105,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 143,730 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 38th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cleveland, at $83,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Ohio?
The median annual wage is $82,510, or $39.67 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $97,550, so pay in Ohio is 15.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Ohio earns more than $105,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $66,980 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Cleveland, at $83,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 143,730 jobs in this occupation in Ohio. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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