High paying entry level jobs in Ohio

These occupations in Ohio ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average (2024), so a Ohio salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Ohio.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Ohio

OccupationMedian, Ohio · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$231,810
Master's degree
$148,690 – $329,6902,300
2Dentists, General$167,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,910 – $316,9702,790
3Aerospace Engineers$138,440
Bachelor's degree
$82,830 – $201,6703,710
4Pharmacists$137,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,470 – $165,90012,790
5Physician Assistants$132,090
Master's degree
$96,460 – $210,3504,900
6Lawyers$131,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$69,790 – $269,53019,950
7Veterinarians$125,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,050 – $207,1903,430
8Nurse Practitioners$124,870
Master's degree
$100,780 – $154,68015,400
9Engineers, All Other$120,470
Bachelor's degree
$72,330 – $175,3407,000
10Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$118,830
Bachelor's degree
$79,540 – $170,8003,240
11Software Developers$114,090
Bachelor's degree
$77,790 – $168,40044,790
12Computer Occupations, All Other$109,780
Bachelor's degree
$49,320 – $161,5206,150
13Materials Engineers$106,510
Bachelor's degree
$76,030 – $169,3001,790
14Operations Research Analysts$103,620
Bachelor's degree
$52,000 – $142,0802,600
15Physical Therapists$103,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,070 – $126,06010,280
16Data Scientists$102,630
Bachelor's degree
$61,710 – $160,6506,100
17Computer Systems Analysts$102,320
Bachelor's degree
$64,480 – $156,82019,190
18Electrical Engineers$100,620
Bachelor's degree
$72,690 – $149,3906,360
19Industrial Engineers$100,060
Bachelor's degree
$74,130 – $136,39023,480
20Occupational Therapists$99,390
Master's degree
$70,080 – $123,8006,760
21Mechanical Engineers$99,100
Bachelor's degree
$69,160 – $138,02014,390
22Financial Risk Specialists$98,650
Bachelor's degree
$62,710 – $163,2102,110
23Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$98,000
Bachelor's degree
$60,340 – $130,1004,400
24Network and Computer Systems Administrators$97,570
Bachelor's degree
$62,170 – $143,78015,130
25Database Administrators$97,190
Bachelor's degree
$49,960 – $158,9101,860
26Civil Engineers$96,220
Bachelor's degree
$65,170 – $144,62010,560
27Project Management Specialists$95,770
Bachelor's degree
$59,280 – $160,57034,260
28Financial and Investment Analysts$94,280
Bachelor's degree
$57,870 – $142,4209,760
29Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$91,460
Bachelor's degree
$57,430 – $136,3906,820
30Financial Specialists, All Other$90,060
Bachelor's degree
$53,380 – $132,0404,170
31Dental Hygienists$88,990
Associate's degree
$76,260 – $102,9508,630
32Chemists$85,270
Bachelor's degree
$59,010 – $134,8204,010
33Computer Programmers$85,270
Bachelor's degree
$51,030 – $134,3702,100
34Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$83,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,080 – $173,4504,840
35Logisticians$83,460
Bachelor's degree
$52,000 – $131,1208,990
36Web and Digital Interface Designers$83,360
Bachelor's degree
$48,940 – $151,0902,520
37Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,870
Associate's degree
$65,480 – $101,1903,160
38Registered Nurses$82,510
Bachelor's degree
$66,980 – $105,290143,730
39Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,490 – $132,8502,840
40Respiratory Therapists$79,920
Associate's degree
$65,580 – $97,0306,640
41Business Teachers, Postsecondary$79,770
Doctoral or professional degree
$36,550 – $210,0203,100
42Credit Analysts$79,720
Bachelor's degree
$50,460 – $133,7002,790
43Business Operations Specialists, All Other$79,350
Bachelor's degree
$46,560 – $132,72031,690
44Accountants and Auditors$79,320
Bachelor's degree
$52,140 – $131,40050,440
45Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,270
Associate's degree
$38,670 – $101,0302,140
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,800
Bachelor's degree
$48,370 – $103,15049,540
47Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$78,540
Bachelor's degree
$50,610 – $109,4902,460
48Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,500
Associate's degree
$48,820 – $97,7401,800
49Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,320
Associate's degree
$60,360 – $98,4509,570
50Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,050
Master's degree
$37,970 – $129,5203,940

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianOhio	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$231,810	$148,690 – $329,690	2,300
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$167,410	$64,910 – $316,970	2,790
3	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$138,440	$82,830 – $201,670	3,710
4	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,020	$65,470 – $165,900	12,790
5	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$132,090	$96,460 – $210,350	4,900
6	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$131,020	$69,790 – $269,530	19,950
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$125,060	$54,050 – $207,190	3,430
8	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$124,870	$100,780 – $154,680	15,400
9	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$120,470	$72,330 – $175,340	7,000
10	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$118,830	$79,540 – $170,800	3,240
11	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$114,090	$77,790 – $168,400	44,790
12	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$109,780	$49,320 – $161,520	6,150
13	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,510	$76,030 – $169,300	1,790
14	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,620	$52,000 – $142,080	2,600
15	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,050	$79,070 – $126,060	10,280
16	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$102,630	$61,710 – $160,650	6,100
17	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,320	$64,480 – $156,820	19,190
18	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,620	$72,690 – $149,390	6,360
19	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,060	$74,130 – $136,390	23,480
20	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$99,390	$70,080 – $123,800	6,760
21	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,100	$69,160 – $138,020	14,390
22	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,650	$62,710 – $163,210	2,110
23	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$98,000	$60,340 – $130,100	4,400
24	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$97,570	$62,170 – $143,780	15,130
25	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$97,190	$49,960 – $158,910	1,860
26	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,220	$65,170 – $144,620	10,560
27	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,770	$59,280 – $160,570	34,260
28	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$94,280	$57,870 – $142,420	9,760
29	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$91,460	$57,430 – $136,390	6,820
30	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$90,060	$53,380 – $132,040	4,170
31	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$88,990	$76,260 – $102,950	8,630
32	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$85,270	$59,010 – $134,820	4,010
33	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$85,270	$51,030 – $134,370	2,100
34	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$83,910	$60,080 – $173,450	4,840
35	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$83,460	$52,000 – $131,120	8,990
36	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$83,360	$48,940 – $151,090	2,520
37	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,870	$65,480 – $101,190	3,160
38	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$82,510	$66,980 – $105,290	143,730
39	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,570	$51,490 – $132,850	2,840
40	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,920	$65,580 – $97,030	6,640
41	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,770	$36,550 – $210,020	3,100
42	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$79,720	$50,460 – $133,700	2,790
43	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$79,350	$46,560 – $132,720	31,690
44	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$79,320	$52,140 – $131,400	50,440
45	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,270	$38,670 – $101,030	2,140
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,800	$48,370 – $103,150	49,540
47	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$78,540	$50,610 – $109,490	2,460
48	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,500	$48,820 – $97,740	1,800
49	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,320	$60,360 – $98,450	9,570
50	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,050	$37,970 – $129,520	3,940

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Ohio. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Ohio to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Ohio

More for Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state